TIME FOR PLANE SPEAKING

First it was a laugh but now it’s serious and Moyes says his players can almost touch it as Lingard and Co point the Hammers towards Europe

NEWCASTLE v WEST HAM

BY MATTHEW DUNN

DAVID MOYES called his staff together at West Ham’s training ground yesterday morning as the most remarkable race in the club’s history entered the final stretch. Win at Newcastle this lunchtime and the club go third in the table with just six games to go until the end of the season.

The whole “West Ham in the Champions League” thing started as a bit of fun – unthinkable after the Hammers lost their opening game of the season to Toon (Declan Rice reacts, bottom), amid talk of takeover turmoil and club captain Mark Noble angry at the board (Karren Brady and David Gold, below) for selling off the club’s brightest young prospects. Now, though, Moyes admits things are beginning to get a bit serious. “The teams below us, with the quality they have got, have been over the course before and know how to get over the line,” he said.

“This is pretty new to us but we are going to do it our way – maybe not completely conventionally, but we are going to go with it, with no real pressure, not expecting too much and see what we come up with. “But this is the bit where the pressure comes because you have got yourself so close now, you feel as if you can touch it.” Moyes still maintains the calibre of the clubs around West Ham in the table make them the rank outsiders for a top-four place. But he also knows these opportunities to step up onto the biggest club stage of all are few and far between.

“I’m not going to load the players with loads of pressure because there is a chance of being in the Champions League,” he said.

“But I’ve just said to the staff this morning that you don’t get many opportunities to do this. “We have to take every opportunity we can to get around the

Champions League and be in it. If we can do it, we will, but it is a long, long shot for us. I can’t see the bookies making us favourites to be in the top four.”

West Ham’s prospects are not helped by the loss of two of their most influential players at such a critical time.

Moyes (circle) hopes Rice and Michail Antonio will be available for some part of the remainder of the season, but that is a far cry from being the fixtures in a team that has fought its way to such heady heights.

Aaron Cresswell, too, is a doubt for today’s game. But it is a lot more fun in training each day when the players are fighting to achieve their dreams instead of battling the drop.

“When we were coming to the business end last year and the year before, we were needing to score goals and get points to stay up or keep away from the bottom three,” Moyes added.

“So we’re enjoying this new situation. Everybody is working hard and it’s been good fun on the training ground. We’ve built a good spirit and we’re hoping we can keep it going.”

IT SEEMED A MILLION MILES AWAY AFTER THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON!

FROM FRONT PAGEin nine games since moving on loan from Manchester United.

Bruce says Moyes (the pair above as Everton and Birmingham managers in 2005) – who saw West Ham struggle for parts of last term – gives him hope he can turn Newcastle into contenders again.

Asked about those dinosaur slurs against Moyes, Bruce joked: “Are you saying there are similarities!? He’s dispelled those myths.

“He has got to the top. He has resilience

‘I DINO WHY THE CRITICS WON’T PRAISE MOYSEY’

and toughness. He is relentless in his work ethic. It does not surprise me he has done well.

“He’s had some tough months, but Moysey is the manager of the year.

“To keep them top four and vying for the Champions League is wonderful. Jesse Lingard came in, they recruited well and have had a great season.

“Tomas Soucek has been impressive, Declan Rice is emerging into a top, player and there’s

Jesse. They are superbly managed.”

Lingard chose West Ham rather than join Bruce at Newcastle, but the Toon boss said: “It gives everyone hope of what you can be.

“Jesse has lit up the place with enthusiasm and endeavour and is as good as anyone in the Premier League.”

Newcastle have Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson pushing to start their first game since injuries, after being used as subs against Burnley.