West Ham United: Kevin Nolan shares what Declan Rice told him about Kalvin Phillips
Kevin Nolan has revealed that Declan Rice told West Ham “really good things” about Kalvin Phillips before he joined the club on loan in the January transfer window.
Speaking to talkSPORT on Thursday (8 February), the Hammers coach said the club’s former captain texted him saying to “look after” his fellow England international and that he’ll “enjoy working with him”.
Nolan revealed that he’s “thoroughly enjoyed” the first week or two with the 28-year-old midfielder, but he added that David Moyes has insisted that he needs time to get up to speed following his loan move from Manchester City.
“I didn’t know him before he got here but obviously we heard really good things about him from Declan [Rice],” said Nolan. “Obviously, me being close with Dec and working well with him for a few years, he texted me a couple of times just saying: ‘Look after Kalv, he is a great lad, you’ll enjoy working with him’.
“And I have. I have thoroughly enjoyed the first week or so, two weeks, now that he’s been with us. Yeah, gaffer said it, you have got to give him time.”
Kalvin Phillips barely played before West Ham move
It’s nice to see that Rice sent messages about Phillips to Nolan as he will no doubt be keen to see his England teammate do well with West Ham.
The pair have played together for a number of years in midfield for the national team and the former Hammers captain will know exactly what he has to offer.
It’s been a tricky start to life for him since making the loan switch from Man City, but it’s going to take him some time getting match fit after he’s barely played over the past couple of seasons.
The midfielder showed some nice touches against Manchester United, but unfortunately for him, that was all forgotten after he made a mistake that led to them scoring in the Irons’ 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Moyes needs to find a balance for him over the next few weeks, starting with the game against Arsenal on Sunday (11 February), where Philipps could come up against Rice on his return to the London Stadium.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have completed a new behind-the-scenes appointment.
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