Curbishley worried that his over-worked West Ham players will suffer burn-out

13 April 2012

Alan Curbishley fears his players could face burn-out after a punishing pre-season schedule.


Two goals from Craig Bellamy gave Curbishley's side, who returned from a tour of the USA and Canada on Friday, a 2-0 victory at Peterborough, but their manager says he would have preferred to have rotated his side with another friendly at Southampton on Friday.

Happy Hammer: Craig Bellamy is congratulated by Julien Faubert (left) and Carlton Cole after netting in West Ham's 2-0 friendly win at Peterborough United.

'We were all feeling a bit rough from the America trip,' he said. 'I wanted to rotate my side a bit more but I can't because I've got quite a few out already with little niggles.

'That means some of the players are getting flogged, which should not be the way during pre-season.'

West Ham didn't show signs of jet lag as they took the lead within three minutes. Scott Parker won the ball and hit the perfect pass for Bellamy to race clear and waltz around goalkeeper Joe Lewis to score.

The 29-year-old striker settled the game just before the break after sprinting clear to lob the ball delicately over the advancing Lewis.

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