West Ham's Aaron Cresswell relishing attack-minded wing back role in Slaven Bilic's 3-4-3 formation

West Ham wide boy: The Hammers are among several top flight sides to deploy a back three
West Ham United via Getty Images
James Benge25 November 2016

Aaron Cresswell is eager to make the most of the freedom to get forward in his new role as West Ham’s left wing back.

The 26-year-old’s return from injury last month coincided with Slaven Bilic’s decision to switch to a back three, playing Cresswell and Michail Antonio as wing-backs in a bid to shore up a stuttering backline and free Dimitri Payet from defensive responsibility.

Bilic’s new formation has impressed in fits and bursts, most notably in an impressive 2-1 win over Chelsea in the EFL Cup last month, but seems well-suited to Cresswell’s marauding instincts down the left flank.

“It’s certainly one that I like,” Cresswell told the club website.

“I like to get forward as much as I can and you’ve also got to be defensively minded as well when the opposition are on the attack. For me, I’ll play in whatever formation the gaffer wants.”

West Ham’s challenging run of fixtures continues on Sunday when they travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United having already lost in injury time to Tottenham last week and with league matches against Arsenal and Liverpool to come.

In Pictures | Tottenham vs West Ham | 19/11/2016

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Their hectic fixture calendar will also include another away match against Jose Mourinho’s side in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Last season the Hammers made a habit of upsetting the odds against top sides, they went unbeaten in two visits to United in 2015-16, but Cresswell knows that 17th placed West Ham’s poor form means they cannot rely on similar shocks this season.

“We know it is going to be very tough, especially going there twice in four days,” he said.

“But there are no easy games in the Premier League, whether you’re playing Liverpool or Chelsea, or one of the teams at the bottom, there’s no game that will be easy.

“We know as players and professionals we need to get as many points as we can and hopefully we can do that on Sunday.”

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