Flynn Downes has revealed the nine-word message Declan Rice told the midfielder about European football at West Ham United after joining from Swansea City in a summer move.
Flynn Downes reveals Declan Rice message on European football at West Ham
West Ham United bought Flynn Downes from Swansea City in a £12m deal in July, with the midfielder signing a four-year contract. David Moyes acquired the 23-year-old as he bid to bolster his core after sending Alex Kral back to Spartak Moscow, while Mark Noble retired.
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Downes only spent a season at Swansea after joining the Jacks from academy side Ipswich Town in 2021. He had also not played Premier League football before making his Hammers debut as a stoppage-time substitute on the opening day in defeat against Manchester City.
Game time has proven scarce in east London so far for the former England U20 technician. Moyes opted to leave Downes on the bench as West Ham lost at Nottingham Forest at the weekend. But he could now get his first real showing at home to Viborg on Thursday night.
West Ham host Viborg in the first-round of the Hammers’ Europa Conference League play-off tie. And Downes has told the Evening Standard ahead of the clash that he cannot wait to experience his first European encounter in claret-and-blue, as it will fulfil a dream of his.
Downes has also revealed Declan Rice pointed to European nights at the London Stadium in his first interaction with the West Ham captain after switching to the Irons this summer.
“When I came in here and spoke to Dec, he said: ‘You wait until we get those European nights going’,” he said. “I can’t wait. It’ll be a dream come true to play European football.”
Flynn Downes could come in to replace suspended Declan Rive vs Viborg
Downes caught Moyes’ interest with his efforts at Swansea last season, having excelled in 39 appearances across all competitions. But he continues to wait for a chance to show that skill in claret-and-blue, and an early European affair may prove to be the ideal opportunity.
Rice is suspended for the first-leg of West Ham’s play-off with Viborg, to open a European door to Downes to start. The Hammers skipper and left-back Aaron Cresswell have carried over bans for incidents in last term’s Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Downes could now come in to partner Tomas Soucek in the engine room for his European bow. And being at home, he can sample the atmosphere Rice promised in their first talks.
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