David Moyes praises ‘amazing’ James Ward-Prowse as West Ham’s new midfield man helps them recapture their set-piece dominance
- James Ward-Prowse is helping West Ham refind their set-piece fear factor
- David Moyes targeted him for this reason and has praised his new man’s efforts
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At this rate, James Ward-Prowse will need to be renamed ‘The Postman’, with West Ham manager David Moyes saying his summer signing is delivering the goods.
Ward-Prowse has provided a goal or assist in every West Ham game since joining for £30million: two assists against Chelsea; one goal against Brighton; one assist against Luton; one goal against Manchester City; two assists against Backa Topola in Thursday’s Europa League victory.
Liverpool are next in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday and Moyes says he is thrilled with Ward-Prowse’s start. The Scot chased the England international for years for this purpose, only finally securing him after Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.
Moyes feels West Ham are a team who should be top of the set-piece table. They ranked first in 2020-21, then fifth in 2021-22, then 11th in 2022-23. Now, Moyes feels his side are returning to their previous status as the Premier League’s connoisseurs of corners, thanks to Ward-Prowse’s deliveries.
James Ward-Prowse has contributed well to West Ham with his set pieces and playmaking
David Moyes wants his team to recover their set-piece strength after they finished top of the set-piece table in 2020/21
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‘We could have scored four or five from corner kicks,’ Moyes said after West Ham’s European win in midweek. ‘We’ve been a decent side from set pieces, maybe without the word “specialist”, but I think we’ve got a specialist now in Ward-Prowse. He’s contributing to us and our results at the moment.
Two of Ward-Prowse’s corners led to goals for Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek against Backa Topola. ‘We need to get more free-kicks and more corners!’ Moyes continued.
‘He’s made big contributions in all the games. It’s been an amazing start. He’s a team player all round. He’s fit as a fiddle, he runs, he does the work. He does several jobs. We’re beginning to get a group of players we could be talking a lot about.’
Moyes was asked what West Ham need to do on Sunday and he said: ‘Not fear it. Go and attack Liverpool as much as we can and try to challenge them.’
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