Pep talk: David Moyes and Gianluca Scamacca
(Picture: REUTERS)David Moyes has told misfiring striker Gianluca Scamacca he has his full backing but admits the West Ham striker’s confidence is suffering.
Scamacca was a marquee £30.5million signing from Serie A side Sassuolo in the summer but has scored just twice in 14 Premier League appearances so far this season.
“I don’t think you would expect him to be full of confidence when he’s not scoring goals,” said Moyes ahead of tonight’s game at Leeds. “But I could say the same about Michail Antonio. I could say the same about maybe Jarrod Bowen or Said Benrahma.
“Gianluca, once he got started, got us a few goals in Europe and a few goals in the Premier League so we’ve got to hope he gets back to that. We believe in him, but when you’re a striker and not scoring then confidence can be a problem.”
Moyes had hoped Scamacca would solve a long-standing problem after being forced to rely on Antonio as his sole specialist striker. Instead, a lack of goals has been arguably the most important factor in the Irons’ dreadful start to the season.
Moyes added: “We have to try to bring Gianluca in and nurture him and get him how we want him. But we also understand what he needs. We’d like him to get into the box more often. He’s a good finisher.”
