- Kalvin Phillips joined West Ham on loan last month in search of more gametime
- The England midfielder has endured a difficult start to life with the Hammers
- David Moyes’ shoes are enormous to fill if he leaves West Ham at the end of the season – It’s All Kicking Off podcast
David Moyes urged Kalvin Phillips to get back to Declan Rice’s level as the two England midfielders meet at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Phillips, on loan from Manchester City for the rest of the season, has struggled in his two West Ham appearances so far, after arriving with minimal first-team minutes under his belt.
Rice, who left for Arsenal in a club-record £105million move last summer, made his first return to his former club in a 3-1 League Cup defeat in November, and gave away a penalty in the Hammers’ 2-0 Premier League win at the Emirates in December.
‘Two years ago I thought there was very little between them,’ Moyes said. ‘Kalvin played very well at the last Euros for England. In truth, Declan has kicked on. Kalvin went to make all the right moves and it hasn’t quite worked for him.
David Moyes vowed to give Kalvin Phillips time to get back to his best after a difficult start to his spell at West Ham after joining on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season
Moyes claimed there wasn’t much between Phillips and Declan Rice a couple of years ago
‘But he’s young enough and good enough to get back to the levels. When you have a point to prove you have to do it. I hope we get Kalvin his opportunities to do it.’
Meanwhile, Moyes is confident his new two-and-a-half year deal will be confirmed soon, with his current contract set to expire in summer. He said: ‘We are going in the right direction.’
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