MX23RW : Monday, May 6 09:48:59| >> :120:60763:60763:

Pellegrini backs motivated Nasri to make a difference for West Ham

The French midfielder has joined the Hammers on a free transfer.

Samir Nasri can recapture his best form with West Ham, according to manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The 31-year-old midfielder signed for the Hammers on a free transfer earlier this week after completing an 18-month doping ban.

Nasri was an unused substitute against Brighton in midweek and is expected to make his debut against Birmingham in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The Frenchman was an integral part of Pellegrini's title-winning Manchester City side in 2014 and the Chilean is confident he can hit the heights again.

"He has been training with us for a month, he is looking very well, he lost weight," said Pellegrini. "And I think that football is like when you ride a bicycle when you are a small boy, you never forget.

"Samir is a very technical player and I am sure he will play in the same way as he did before. I trust in him a lot.

"I suppose because he knows that this is revenge for him, he is motivated, working hard and he has a lot of quality and I am absolutely sure he will be a player that makes a difference."

Nasri was banned for a breach of anti-doping rules when, as a Sevilla player, he used drip treatment in 2016.

"I don't want to talk about whether it was his fault or not his fault. He was involved," added Pellegrini.

"I have known Samir Nasri since I was at Manchester City. He was a top player in the first year, one of the reasons we won the title was because of him.

"After speaking to him for a long time about what he was thinking about for the future, I decided to give him an option here at West Ham.

"He worked very hard to be considered and now that's why he has signed his contract and now he has to demonstrate it on the pitch. But mentally, he is another player with a lot of experience.

"That part of his life, for Nasri it has passed."

Pellegrini also confirmed that midfielder Jack Wilshere is still "some weeks" away from a comeback due to an ankle injury.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Andy Sims, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'ae6250d4-5cfa-49aa-8e67-6f68527b48b7');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Pellegrini backs motivated Nasri to make a difference for West Ham'});

ID:345970: cacheID:345970:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4430:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Harry Kane celebrates scoring for Tottenham Hotspur against Cardiff City on January 1, 2019.
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Kane, Bernardo, Fernandinho
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs351861169581160
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Chelsea351591170591154
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham361310135670-1449
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton351211125357-447
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
13Fulham36128165155-444
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!