West Ham United manager David Moyes has explained his decision to start new signing Mohammed Kudus from the bench, urging fans to exercise patience and allow him time to settle in at the Premier League club.
Mohammed Kudus, who joined West Ham from Ajax Amsterdam during the recent transfer window, has made two appearances as a substitute since his arrival.
His debut came during stoppage time in West Ham’s 2-1 victory over Luton Town prior to the international break.
The 23-year-old midfielder showcased his talent while playing for the Ghanaian national team, scoring in both the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Central African Republic (CAR) and in an international friendly against Liberia.
Despite his impressive performances, Kudus was not included in the starting lineup for West Ham’s match against Manchester City, only coming on in the 67th minute. Some fans had hoped to see him start, given his remarkable skill set.
Manager David Moyes defended his decision, emphasizing the need for Kudus to adapt to his new club, along with fellow recent signing Konstantinos Mavropanos.
“Edson (Kudus) and James (another new signing) have done a brilliant job and have started the season incredibly well,” Moyes said.
“We might need to wait a little bit more time for Dinos (Mavropanos) and Mo (Kudus) to get settled in, but overall, I am really pleased with how they have started.”
Kudus will be hoping for more playing time and a possible start in West Ham’s upcoming UEFA Europa League game against FK TSC Bačka Topola.
Moyes’s comments underline the importance of allowing new signings time to acclimate to their surroundings and team dynamics.
