David Moyes has clearly been following the Hammers closely this season and after coming so close to clinching the manager’s job has a special interest in what’s going on.

The reality of his failure to get the position ahead of Manuel Pellegrini could perhaps be be summed up in one name – Jordan Hugill.

The £8 million signing from his former club Preston North End was probably a huge factor in the board’s decision to look elsewhere.

But we owe the man a debt of gratitude for steering us to safety in the most difficult of circumstances and also in overseeing the fledgling carer of Declan Rice.

His rise to the heights of international football is a matter of pride to Moyes who amazingly still cannot find a job  nearly 18 month after leaving the London Stadium.

He is occasionally busy on the punditry business and has been discussing Rice in particular in his latest comments.

“Declan is improving all the time. I think this season he has been exceptional. I think the step up he’s made to play for England,” Moyes told talkSPORT.

When we had him at West Ham he had to play centre-half because we were short and had a few injuries at the times. He’s a great boy, a great learner, wants to improve all the time. I think he’s got a big future.

He has become nearly that central midfield play England is looking for. I think Declan Rice might be the future now.”