Moyes given a selection headache as Downes presses claims

Gianluca Scamacca’s late strike secured a 1-0 win over Anderlecht, which sent the Hammers five points clear at the top of Group B with three matches to play.

- Malik Ouzia

FLYNN DOWNES opened up on his “tough” start to life at West Ham after a breakthrough performance here last night helped put his side firmly on course for the Europa Conference League knockout rounds.

The introduction of Scamacca, along with Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta, 20 minutes from time ultimately proved decisive, but until the arrival of the trio, Downes’s display had been the major positive for David Moyes. It was just his second start since moving to the London Stadium from Swansea, with the lifelong Hammers fan having had to be patient for opportunities.