West Ham United coach Neil McDonald admits manager Sam Allardyce didn't join them in Austria as he wanted to work on transfers.

The Hammers return home to face Boreham Wood on Tuesday as they step up their preparations for the new season, and Allardyce has been working hard to try and strengthen his squad.

McDonald explained: "That was the reason Sam didn't come. He's been very busy over the summer.

"He's been on the phone trying to get deals done and I'm sure he'll be trying even harder in the next few weeks to try and freshen the squad up because we need competition for every place in the line-up."