Kevin Nolan reveals a text from Declan Rice before Kalvin Phillips's loan to West Ham
West Ham manager Kevin Nolan says Declan Rice told him to look after Kalvin Phillips before his loan move in January.
The Hammers got Phillips on loan for city of manchester to save him from low exile pep guardiolahitting Juventus, Aston Villa and crystal Palace to your signature.
However, the England international has had a difficult time since his arrival in east London and has made some mistakes against manchester united and Bournemouth.
But Nolan has defended the former. Leeds United star and told talkSPORT Drive that he will be back to his best when he recovers.
He also told Andy Goldstein and Andy Townsend that Rice, who left West Ham last summer to Arsenal and knows Phillips well from his work in England, played an important role in giving Nolan a text message.
Asked if he knew Phillips well, Nolan told talkSPORT: “No, I didn't know him before he got here but obviously we heard very good things about him from Dec (lan Rice).
“Obviously, because I'm close to Dec and worked well with him for a few years, he texted me a couple of times saying, 'Look after Kalv, he's a great lad, you'll enjoy working with him.'
“And I have done it. I have really enjoyed the first week, two weeks, now that he has been with us. Yes, the coach said it, you have to give him time.
“We were talking to Andy off the air, when you haven't been playing, when you haven't had that week in, week out, and you come in and sometimes it takes a little while.
“He is trying to get to know us, us as a unit and what we want because we are going to be totally different from what Manchester City is.
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“So he's just finding his feet and I'm sure that as soon as he does he'll be an absolutely tremendous signing for us between now and the end of the season.
“I'm really looking forward to it and to be honest I can't beat him, he's a great kid, he wants to work hard. You could tell he was really upset after the weekend.”
West Ham had a relatively busy January compared to other clubs in what was generally a quiet transfer window.
Phillips arrives on loan until the end of the season, although there is no purchase option in the summer. The Hammers will pay his £140,000-a-week wages.
Pablo Fornals also left after entering the final 18 months of his contract and signed for Real Betis for around £7m.
Said Benrahma eventually left and joined Lyon, although the transfer was not without problems after missing the deadline on February 1.
