DAVID MOYES is confident he can get the Leeds version of Kalvin Phillips firing for West Ham.
England midfielder Phillips has endured an inauspicious start to his loan spell from Manchester City.
He was at fault for goals in his first two appearances and was then sent off in his fourth, a 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
But Hammers boss Moyes wants to see a return to the sort of form which prompted City to splash out to prise Phillips from Elland Road in 2022.
“He doesn’t need to improve, he just needed game time,” said Moyes.
“The sending-off set him back a bit just as he was getting up and running.
“Kalvin will continue to improve the more game time he gets and he is showing that at the moment.
“He’s a great boy to work with and he is looking to get back to the standard he set when he was with Leeds United.”
Phillips came on as a late substitute as West Ham slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Freiburg in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash.
The 28-year-old is likely to be back in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s visit of struggling Burnley.
The Hammers’ next three matches are at home to the Clarets, Freiburg in the second leg and Aston Villa.
“Our form in the main at home has been OK, so let’s see if we can keep it up until the end of the season,” added Moyes.
“It’s important we look to win our home games if we want to try to hang in with the teams in the European places.”
Moyes will check on left-back Emerson Palmieri, who came off against Freiburg with a groin issue.
Former Clarets winger Maxwel Cornet is out with a hamstring injury.