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Kevin Nolan defends Kalvin Phillips after "difficult" West Ham loan spell

Wed 24 July 2024 13:10, UK

Kevin Nolan has defended Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips after he was slammed during a poor loan spell with West Ham last season.

The 28-year-old arrived at the London Stadium during the January transfer window in search of valuable game time ahead of Euro 2024, with David Moyes a long-time admirer the midfielder .

Having made just 10 appearances, giving away a goal against Bournemouth on his debut and being sent off against Nottingham Forest, Phillips enduring a hugely frustrating spell.

Speaking live via talkSPORT on Wednesday (24 July, 7:23am), Nolan said: “When he came down to London, he had just had a baby. Everyone forgets those little bits, moving here, there and everywhere when we’ve got wives and kids.

“To try and bed in with the squad then, it was a difficult time for him, off the pitch as well as on. Fingers crossed he gets the chance to go to another club, get fit and ready, and level with the other players. He’s not doing it for anybody else now, but he’ll want to show everyone that he can do it.”

Kevin Nolan speaks out in defence of Kalvin Phillips’ West Ham United spell

Of course, fans from all parties wanted to see Phillips flourish during his time at the London Stadium, but with a lack of game time under Pep Guardiola, it was always going to be a big ask.

The midfielder has made just 31 appearances since signing for the current Premier League champions from Leeds United in 2022 having struggled to convince Pep Guardiola he deserves more game time.

Phillips will have wanted to reignite his career when switching to London for six months, though fans were far less welcoming when the loan deal did not work out as planned.

The former Leeds man is certainly a talented footballer, having proven it during his 234 appearances at Elland Road, earning his England call-up under Gareth Southgate, but he still can’t catch a break.

Fans often forget that footballers are people too. While they are paid to play the beautiful game and must hear criticism when things are going wrong, Nolan has every right to defend the torrent of abuse aimed towards him.

In other West Ham news, the Hammers could make new moves for Jota Silva after a new price tag update emerged from Portugal.

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