SOU CHEF Tomas Soucek given potato salad present by West Ham canteen staff after missing favourite Czech dish over Christmas

TOMAS SOUCEK has been handed the ideal present on his return to training - a potato salad.

Posted Thursday, January 07, 2021 by Thesun.co.uk

Soucek and his West Ham team-mates reported back for duty for the first time since his late goal earned them victory at Everton on New Year's Day.

SOU CHEF Tomas Soucek given potato salad present by West Ham canteen staff after missing favourite Czech dish over Christmas
Tomas Soucek showed off his potato salad in the West Ham canteen

SOU CHEF Tomas Soucek given potato salad present by West Ham canteen staff after missing favourite Czech dish over Christmas
The midfielder has certainly given Hammers fans plenty to eat up this season Credit: AFP

After the match, the midfielder admitted he had missed being back in his native Czech Republic, gorging on potato salad as he had previously done on his Christmas break.

But after training at the club's Rush Green HQ on Wednesday, club chefs served up a specially-made potato salad.

And the 25-year-old proudly showed off his Salad a la Soucek in a post on his Twitter before he munched his way through the lunch.

Soucek's quick-thinking finish at Everton was his fifth goal of the campaign, most of which have come in the last month.

Having popped up with a late equaliser at home to Brighton a week earlier, the towering midfielder is quickly becoming an invaluable and strikingly unique asset in David Moyes' arsenal.

Soucek's height and dominance at high balls coming into the box have earned comparisons with Marouane Fellaini.

SOU CHEF Tomas Soucek given potato salad present by West Ham canteen staff after missing favourite Czech dish over Christmas
West Ham staff presented 'Salad A La Soucek' on Wednesday

Hammers boss Moyes, 57, got the best out of the big Belgian at Everton and later signed him for Manchester United.

After Soucek's goal against Brighton, the Scot said: "If Tomas Soucek has a career like Marouane Fellaini's, it is because he has played for top clubs.

"And Belgium have been No1 in the world for quite a long time and so many of the managers have chosen him at the club, whether it be Jose Mourinho or Van Gaal, they've all chosen him in the big games.

"You'd certainly pick Tomas Soucek in the big games because his ability to score from midfield.

"If I had a criticism it would be that I need to find a way to get him in the box more.

"Even tonight he had another chance to make it 3-2 at the back post. On a night where I don't think we or Tomas played so well, he still came up with a goal."