Monday 27 October 2014 00:34, UK
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce feels the biggest test of his in-form side will begin when the fixtures start to pile up next month.
New signings Diafra Sakho netted for the sixth game in a row as the Hammers stunned Manchester City 2-1 at Upton Park on Saturday to go fourth in the Premier League.
Ecuador striker Enner Valencia has also been a key player since his summer arrival but Allardyce, who took Sakho off against City as a precaution against a shoulder injury, will judge his team when the hustle and bustle of English football takes hold.
"We are on a big high at the moment, it is a fantastic feeling, but we are only nine games in and there is a long way to go yet," Allardyce said.
"We still have the difficult time ahead - it will be the end of November and December when all the games come flooding thick and fast.
"The new players - will they fatigue or won't they? We are absolutely delighted they have all hit the ground running, but they have never experienced this level of physicality.
"They could easily fall into December finding life extremely difficult, the rest of the squad may have to dip in then and help them out while we give them a rest. Hopefully it is not the case, but I have to be wary of that."
Allardyce added: "We don't particularly talk to the player about that because we don't want to put any negativity in his mind.
"They are never going to think they are tired when they are winning, but you have to make big decisions on making sure you do give them a rest.
"Look at Valencia's programme this year, it has been absolutely huge. Playing in Mexico, playing in the World Cup, coming straight here, playing in every game, playing four games on international duty, travelling thousands and thousands of miles and yet still capable of running around like he did."
