MY ACCOUNT
David Moyes believes Declan Rice can follow in the footsteps of Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds by becoming only the third West Ham captain to lift a major trophy.
The Hammers host Gent in the Europa Conference League on Thursday with the quarter-final tie finely poised at 1-1.
Should they emerge victorious at the London Stadium, then the East London club will face either AZ Alkmaar or Anderlecht in the semi-finals.
And Moyes has backed the England midfielder to etch his name into the history books and become a West Ham legend in Prague, where the final is set to be held on June 7.
The Scot said: “Moore and Bonds are two of the finest players and names a lot of people will remember, no matter what team you support.
“I think that’s a big thing, not just for whoever’s captain, and that’s Rice at the moment.
“But I think that’s a big incentive for the club. It feels that long since the club has been close to a trophy.”
Feet on the ground
Hammers fans may be dreaming of a final in the Czech Republic, but 24-year-old Flynn Downes is keeping his feet firmly on the ground for the time being.
The boyhood West Ham fan has already been bombarded with requests for tickets to the final, but the midfielder is only focused on Thursday night’s game with Gent.
He said: “I have already had two people on at me about tickets for the final, if we get there. But we have to earn that place in the final first — starting on Thursday.
“The game the other night didn’t go too well. We didn’t play our best but we’ve got the chance to put it right.
“I do know how big this trophy is for the club. All the boys know that and the manager has said it too. Hopefully we’ll play a lot better than we did last week and we can progress.”
Moyes is looking to salvage a poor domestic campaign this season and ease the pressure on his job with a memorable European triumph.
