WEST HAM are keeping their dossier open on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
The Hammers want extra energy in their side and on-loan Kalvin Phillips’ poor form means they are looking at alternatives.
England Under-21 cap Hackney has shone this season and Nottingham Forest are also on his trail.
Hammers spy Mick Brown and Nottingham Forest scout Chris Brass both checked out the 21-year-old at Preston on Wednesday.
On loan Manchester City star Phillips’ West Ham woes continued in Saturday’s defeat to Forest as he was sent off in the second half for two bookings in the space of FOUR MINUTES.
But Moyes was quick to defend his latest signing, saying: ” The sending-off was a huge blow because the game was tight and we were always in it at 1-0.
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“The minute we went down to ten men it was going to make it twice as hard.
“I thought Kalvin played much better today, he did a lot of good things.
“I hadn’t seen it coming. The crowd played a huge part in backing Nottingham Forest, with the referee, and played a part as they always do here.
“The first one the boy’s blocking him and he pushes him away because he’s trying to play the game quick, as we’re trying to get back in the game and win it.
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“Nowadays you get booked for standing in front of the ball, so he shouldn’t have pushed him, I get that.
“The second one – I’ve only been told – I haven’t seen it.
“But they are saying the two boots are very close and they just come together.
“It looks like there was quite a meal made of it but that’s the way it is.”
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Meanwhile, the Irons are still ploughing ahead with talks about a new deal for manager David Moyes despite last week’s 6-0 thrashing by Arsenal.
And the Scot isn’t concerned about the growing calls for his head from some sections of the London Stadium faithful.
Speaking after his troops’ 2-0 defeat to Forest, he said: “I am pretty long in the tooth and you can never please everybody.
“It would be hard to say there have been many better times at West Ham.
“Maybe they want something different.
“But they would honestly have to say it has been the best times they have had at the club with regards winning a European trophy, the league positions.
“When you’ve managed the best part of 1,200 games you are going to have difficult times, unless you are very fortunate to manage one of the top teams and even that comes with problems.
“At West Ham, we have had a great three years of constant growth, let’s be fair this year is growth as well.
“We have been sixth for long parts of the season and we are trying to hang in.
“We are hurting really badly as a team – and a manager – because we have not had good results for five or six weeks now.
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“But this year already we have beaten Tottenham, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, we mustn’t forget there were good times not so long ago.
“There is no divine right that West Ham don’t have a dicky period at some point in the season.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
