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Ryan Fredericks believes that team mate Marko Arnautovic will terrorise Premier League defences next season.

Fredericks, speaking in the wake of West Ham's 2-2 draw against Preston at Deepdale on Saturday afternoon admits that he was surprised at the sheer physical presence of the Austrian upon their first meeting.

And the right back, who has featured in all three of West Ham's pre-season encounters so far has backed the 29-year-old will continue where he left off last season.

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"Marko is an animal," Fredericks, who arrived in the summer on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract with Fulham, told whufc.com. "I didn’t realise how big he was until I got here.

"He holds people off for fun, he’s got a great touch and he can do bits of magic like he did at Preston, which is exactly what you need to be challenging at the right end of the table. You need top forwards, and that’s what we’ve got."

Another of the squad's attacking players Fredericks is looking forward to teaming up with is winger Andriy Yarmolenko, who plays on the same flank as the former Fulham defender.

"Yarmo is an exciting player," he added. "I think we complement each other quite well. He can go one v one and also come inside and link the play. I can get around him and leave him to do his bits one v one.

"We’ve both got a bit of pace so we look like we could show a little combination down that [right] side."

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The Ukraine international, who featured alongside Fredericks at Preston also feeling positive about the forthcoming season - whilst he feels he is beginning to develop important relationships with some of his team mates.

"I'm feeling better with every game I play, but I need time to reach my best level," said Yarmolenko. "With every game, I feel better about my relationship with my team mates on the pitch, but we must continue to work hard to get the best possible understanding.

"We are starting to find more combinations, but this is just the start. After another month of training and playing together, I am sure we will play better."

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