Azerbaijan
Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia
South Africa

David Moyes: 'Mohammed Kudus can play a big role in the future'

sportsmole.co.uk, 8 October 2023, 17:21
West Ham United manager David Moyes believes summer signing Mohammed Kudus "can play a big role in the future" after the Ghanaian scored the equaliser in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The Hammers were in front after just eight minutes courtesy of a Tomas Soucek tap-in, before a quickfire second-half brace from Alexander Isak helped Newcastle turn the game on its head, but less than 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute, Kudus rescued a point for the hosts with an 89th-minute equaliser.

The attacker celebrated his first Premier League since completing his £34m transfer from Ajax in August when he fired a low-driven shot into the bottom corner to force both sides to share the spoils at the London Stadium.

Kudus has made five substitute outings for West Ham in the Premier League and is still waiting for his first start in the top flight, while he has started in both of the club's opening two Europa League group-stage games, scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Backa Topola last month.

Moyes has opted to ease Kudus into his first-team plans, but the Scotsman is confident that the attacker will play a significant role for the club in the future.

Asked whether Kudus can force his way into the starting lineup now that he is off the mark in the Premier League, Moyes told BBC Sport: "He will be in the team for years to come so we are not in a huge hurry.

"The team is getting good results, but he can play a big role in the future."

Kudus was delighted to score his first Premier League goal as a West Ham player, telling the club's official website: "It feels very good of course (to score), but most importantly it has made a difference in the team which was us getting a point.

"Even though we wanted the three points, I was happy to score my first (Premier League) goal and most importantly we got a point out of the game.

"[West Ham have] Amazing fans. When we were 2-1 down and I was on the bench you could still feel the support, the energy from the fans. Thanks for them for that, I think it lifted the players' energy a lot so it was a great atmosphere today.

"Everyone gave their best, we take a point and we learn from it. We are not satisfied, we aim even higher, we wanted three points today but we'll have to settle for this, take the point and focus on the next game after the (international) break.

"[Newcastle] are a very good side but we go into every game with the same mentality and the same approach. We wanted three points but it was good to get the draw."

Kudus has thanked everyone associated with West Ham for helping his settle in at the club, adding: "I feel there is still a lot more [to come from me]. The team, the coaches, everyone around the club are helping me a lot to settle in and they feel like a family already. The fans have been amazing as well.

"Credit to everyone around the whole team for helping me settle in quite well. I'm still learning and I feel there is still more for me to give."

West Ham remain seventh in the Premier League table, one point above Newcastle in eighth and three points behind the four, and they will return to action after the international break when they travel to Aston Villa on October 22.

Top News

2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are expected to be busy during this summer's transfer window, with the club planning to boost their squad with a number of signings. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England head coach Gareth Southgate has confirmed that prominent Arsenal and Manchester City players will be among the players missing from the Three Lions' ranks for Monday's friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid stalwart Luka Modric revealed whether he would be staying with Los Blancos during their Champions League final celebrations on Monday. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea's incoming new head coach has reportedly signed his contract with the Blues and will be unveiled as their manager on Monday. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England Women will travel to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for Tuesday's Women's Euro 2025 qualifying clash with France Women. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been told they will need to pay £50m to sign Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo this summer. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rodrygo has insisted that he will remain a Real Madrid player despite Kylian Mbappe's imminent arrival. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rodrygo has insisted that he will remain a Real Madrid player despite Kylian Mbappe's imminent arrival. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey will be without the services of both Caglar Soyuncu and Enes Unal for this summer's European Championship, with the pair forced to withdraw from the preliminary squad. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella named a preliminary 35-man squad for this summer's European Championship, with the group needing to be cut to 26 before the start of the competition. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to lead the Portugal line in Tuesday's international friendly with Finland. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly stepped in to prevent one of their players from participating at the Olympic Games. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The first of Portugal's three pre-Euro 2024 friendly fixtures will take place in Lisbon on Tuesday evening, with Finland making the trip to Estadio Jose Alvalade. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Internacional will hope to increase their chances of making it to the next round of the Copa Sudamericana when they travel to face Real Tomayapo on Wednesday. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have apparently received a boost in their pursuit of a highly-rated midfield target, as one of his fellow suitors have hit the pause button on their pursuit. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona's decision to part ways with head coach Xavi could reportedly benefit Joao Felix's chances of staying with the Catalonian giants for next season. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still waiting for their first slice of continental stardom, England's latest quest for European Championships supremacy is almost underway, and the level of expectation has hardly weighed heavier on the shoulders of Gareth Southgate's crop. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Huachipato can progress to the next round of the Copa Libertadores when they host Gremio at Estadio CAP on Wednesday. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham are reportedly planning to make an early offer for an out-of-favour Arsenal man during the early stages of the summer transfer window. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Romania will play the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 friendly matches on Tuesday evening, with Bulgaria their opponents at Stadionul Steaua in Bucharest. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Antoine Griezmann is reportedly free to leave Atletico Madrid for just £12.8m this summer, with a number of MLS clubs said to be keeping a close eye on his situation. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hungary travel to the Aviva Stadium to face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday evening in the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up fixtures. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kylian Mbappe's move to Real Madrid this summer has allegedly been 'signed, sealed and completed', with the European champions set to announce his arrival next week. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has left the door open for Toni Kroos to reverse his decision to retire from professional footballer this summer. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England head coach Gareth Southgate was without as many as seven players for Sunday's training session as the Three Lions prepare to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Monday's friendly. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that he is not to blame for the club's big-money moves for the likes of Antony and Casemiro during his time at Old Trafford. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Switzerland will play the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up fixtures on Tuesday evening, with Estonia their opponents at the Swissporarena in Lucerne. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are under pressure to make some first-team sales during this summer's transfer window due to their ongoing financial issues, and a number of high-profile players have been linked with exits. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Before their respective Euro 2024 campaigns take precedence, Austria and Serbia commence their preparations for the tournament on Tuesday, meeting in Vienna for an international friendly.