UNITED States international Jonathan Spector cannot wait to come up against old friends and foes when West Ham take on the MLS All-Stars this summer.

The Irons have confirmed that they will take on the cream of the North American league in Toronto on July 24.

And Spector, who left his homeland to join Manchester United as a teenager before joining the Hammers in 2006, is already looking forward to the test.

"It will be a lot of fun," said the 22-year-old.

"They will be in the middle of their season, it will be pre-season for us, so the goals of the two teams will be completely different.

"But it is certainly something that we will all be looking forward to. It will be a good test for us in our pre-season preparations.

"For me it will be nice to play in the MLS All-Star Game. It is a big game for them and they have played some big clubs.

"Chelsea have gone out there and some other really well known clubs. It is an honour that West Ham has been selected to participate in the game. I am certainly looking forward to it."

Since its inception in 1996, the MLS (Major League Soccer) has grown into a competitive 14-team league and attracted some of world football's biggest names - most notably Leyton-born England midfielder David Beckham, who could play in the showpiece friendly.

"It has taken a lot of time and will probably take a lot more time but the league continues to grow," added Spector.

"They keep adding more and more teams and it is exciting to see that as an American."

West Ham expect to announce a series of warm-up fixtures against other North American opposition in the build-up to the All-Star Game in the near future.

For more information on tickets for the MLS All-Star Game, visit www.torontofc.ca or www.mlsnet.com.