David Moyes on the verge of making more history with West Ham if Hammers can go unbeaten for 17th successive European game in Freiburg clash

David Moyes is on the verge of further history with West Ham if they can go unbeaten for a 17th successive European game on Thursday night – the longest run of any English side ever.

West Ham are currently tied on 16 with Don Revie’s Leeds from 1968 and Bill Nicholson’s Tottenham from 1972 as they face Freiburg in Germany in the Europa League tonight.

‘I didn’t know that,’ said Moyes, who won the Europa Conference League in June. ‘Not bad names them, are they? Two incredibly gifted managers over a long period in English football. It would be a great achievement if we can do that. Let’s hope we can keep it going.

‘The excitement of being in Europe… for a long, long time it hasn’t been in the club’s DNA, these sorts of nights. We have not been a European club. We are now. We are now into our third year in a row in Europe. I take pride in that. We certainly don’t take it for granted.’

West Ham opened up their Europa League campaign with a 3-1 win over Backa Topola

The Hammers were crowned Europa Conference League champions last season 

West Ham will take on Freiburg with no away supporters watching on due to a UEFA ban but Moyes is hopeful of another long run in Europe.

Asked if European football is now embedded in the West Ham DNA, Moyes added: ‘We have started to get a little taste of what it is like and what you need to do. I said in the first year I hope we are in Europe after Christmas. I am still saying the same. We were European winners last year. If we can get ourselves into February, March, April next year in Europe, it would be a hell of an achievement.

‘You have to be realistic. This competition has improved greatly.’

Michail Antonio has not travelled due to an adductor injury, meaning Danny Ings is likely to start up front, unless Moyes opts for Jarrod Bowen down the middle. Bowen is hoping he will be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad on Thursday.