'He’s really put a marker down': Moyes stunned by £12m West Ham player's display tonight

By Giuseppe Labellarte

West Ham United manager David Moyes has praised Flynn Downes’ display in Thursday’s Europa Conference League win over Anderlecht.

The Hammers boss, speaking to the club media team post-match, said the 23-year-old had “really put a marker down”.

West Ham won 1-0 in Belgium, courtesy of Gianluca Scamacca’s 79th-minute strike.

Lucas Paqueta’s flick released his fellow substitute, who fired home from a tight angle for his fifth Hammers goal.

Quite a few Hammers players impressed on the night, but Downes really gave Moyes food for thought.

The £12million summer signing from Swansea was only making his second start in claret and blue.

Moyes named Downes in the XI so as to give both Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek a rest.

And the lifelong Hammers fan gave a superb account of himself, with Moyes saying he was “probably the best player tonight”.

The West Ham boss added: “He played really, really well.

“He’s starting to show us a little bit more. He started a little bit slowly, but he’s really put a marker down tonight.

“I thought he played very well tonight.”

‘Caught the eye’

The West Ham website said Downes delivered an ‘impressive performance in Belgium, where his incisive, accurate passing, pressing and ability to repeatedly win possession all caught the eye.

‘The 23-year-old could even have marked the occasion with his first goal in a West Ham shirt, but his left-foot half-volley lacked the accuracy of Gianluca Scamacca’s second-half match-winner.’