Dubai Break

West Ham are just the latest of a number of football teams to take advantage of the warm Dubai weather for a mid-season break. West Ham have been training at the Jebel Ali International Centre of Excellence, the sports training facility of Jebel Ali International Hotels.

The core of the sports academy at the Centre of Excellence is a grassed area under floodlights that holds two full sized football pitches and associated changing facilities. These incorporate two changing areas dedicated to teams and two treatment rooms.

In an interview with the Dubai press Pardew talked of West Ham's “high hopes of winning the cup”.

Let's hope the break has reinvigorated the team as they face a tough match on Sunday against the Chelski.