West Ham United manager David Moyes has said that he will not rush his use of summer signing Flynn Downes after his recent performances in the Europa Conference League. Moyes is pleased with the progress Downes has made so far but has looked back to the summer of 2007 when he signed Jagielka and Baines, who went on to play a combined total of 792 appearances in the Premier League and 70 international caps for England, suggesting he did not rush them and in the long run, it worked out better, eyeing a similar strategy with Downes.
David Moyes said: “Going exactly the way you want it. He started slow and I said this because for reference, I had the likes of Leighton Baines, I had Phil Jagielka who I took both from the Championship teams, none of them probably got in the team for six months in the early days and they both went on to win I don’t know how many caps [for England]. It takes time and if everybody wants to see people right away, they’ve got to trust the manager. The manager is seeing it and doing the right thing and my experience will tell me. Flynn has done very well in the two games. Bits of last night, very good, bits of it, he has to do better. He needs to start expanding his game as a midfield player, but he’s got a lot of good things going for him. I’ll bring him on at the right speed and the right time but I’ve been pleased with what he’s been doing.”
Downes’ move to West Ham came after just 76 Championship appearances, 37 of which came during his sole season in south Wales with Swansea.
