David Moyes says Erik ten Hag should “take a lot of credit” for his turnaround of Manchester United ahead of West Ham’s visit to Old Trafford in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday.
The Reds go into the contest on the back of Sunday’s Carabao Cup triumph over Newcastle while West Ham travel north without key injured starters Lukasz Fabianski (cheekbone fracture) and Vladimir Coufal (heel).
West Ham halted a three-game winless streak by thumping Nottingham Forest 4-0 at the London Stadium on Saturday. A day later, United were lifting silverware at Old Trafford thanks to a 2-0 win over Newcastle thanks to goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.
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The latter is now on 25 goals for the season, one of which came in October’s 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham. Former United boss Moyes has praised the work Erik ten Hag has done within his first season at Old Trafford having watched Sunday's final.
He said: "Manchester United are a side that are used to success, and they're climbing the ladder back to where they want to be. Erik ten Hag has to take a lot of credit for that. I can only look from a distance and say they're doing very well.
"Everyone has seen a much improved Manchester United. It was a tight game on Sunday but Manchester United got there in the end.
"Is it a good time to play them? I don't know about that. They've got a good group of players but we feel we're improving and hopefully we can put on a good show."
Moyes has only won one of the 11 games he has played against United since his sacking in April 2014, although that sole victory came at Old Trafford in a League Cup tie in September 2021.
His other six visits back to his old stomping ground have ended in defeat and the Scot is well aware of the fortress the ground can become. "Going to Old Trafford is always a really difficult game and we've drawn them something like three out of four years away from home in a cup competition,” Moyes added.
“The draws in this competition have been really difficult so far, away from home, but let's go out and try and win this one." As well as the absences of Coufal and Fabianski, West Ham will be without Danny Ings, who is cup-tied after featuring for Aston Villa in earlier FA Cup rounds.
Alphonse Areola is expected to start for the Hammers after replacing Fabianski following a nasty collision with Forest defender Filipe. Ben Johnson may start at right-back in Coufal’s wake with Michail Antonio likely in for Ings.
United attacker Anthony Martial is a doubt for the game having missed the past eight matches with a hip issue while Donny van de Beek and Christian Eriksen are long-term absentees.
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