David Moyes has thrown his support behind Kalvin Phillips to demonstrate his value to West Ham United fans after the midfielder became embroiled in a confrontation with supporters.
Phillips, who arrived on loan from Manchester City in January with hopes of revitalizing his career, has faced a challenging spell at West Ham. Following the team’s 4-3 defeat to Newcastle United over the weekend, Phillips was subjected to criticism from a fan, being labeled as “useless” as he boarded the team bus. In response, Phillips raised his middle finger at the offending supporter—a gesture that Moyes has moved to defend.
“Kalvin is human, and like all of us, he can react in certain situations,” Moyes stated. “What he needs now is support and assistance, and we’re here to stand by him and provide that.”
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“We require the backing of all our supporters for every player, regardless of the circumstances.”
Moyes assured that Phillips has returned to training and that the incident has been put behind them as they prepare for upcoming fixtures.
Phillips, who has started three games and made six substitute appearances for West Ham, may continue to play a significant role, especially with first-choice midfielder Edson Alvarez currently suspended.
Phillips’s move to West Ham came at a time when his place in the England national team was under scrutiny. Despite earning loyalty from manager Gareth Southgate, Phillips’s limited playing time at Manchester City and his struggles at West Ham led to his exclusion from the England squad for the March international break—a rarity since his last omission due to reasons other than injury two years ago.
Southgate emphasized the importance of Phillips rediscovering his form, expressing hope for his return to peak performance.