Declan Rice has backed Gianluca Scamacca to add to his growing catalogue of spectacular goals for West Ham United.
Italy striker Scamacca struck a superb half-volley from 20 yards to open the scoring for the Hammers in their 2-0 home win over Wolves on Saturday evening – the strike marking his first Premier League goal.
The £30million summer signing also struck a wonder goal against Silkeborg in the Europa Conference League last month. Yet Scamacca’s crackers have come as no surprise to Hammers captain Rice.
“He has probably scored about 20 worldies since he’s been here, and I’ve just gone, ‘Wow, he can hit a ball,’” Rice told the club’s website.
“When he gets the space, he can really deliver for us. So, I am buzzing that he scored, but his all-around contribution... he really linked the game well and he looks to be a real positive threat for us.
“Gianluca has got one of the best strikes of a ball I have ever seen. It’s crazy. When it went into the top corner there was no surprise at all.”
Jarrod Bowen’s second-half strike, also his first goal in the Premier League this season, wrapped up a 2-0 win for the Hammers and moved them out of the bottom three, at the expense of Wolves.
The pressure is growing on boss Bruno Lage, but captain Ruben Neves says the players need to take responsibility.
“We have all the information possible before the matches, so it’s about us, it’s not about anyone else,” he told Wolves’ website.
“Of course, we struggled a little bit in the beginning, a lot of new players, a lot of players going out, but no more excuses now.
“It’s about us, it’s about the team, it’s about the dressing room. It’s not about the coach or the board anymore, it’s about us. We need to change this and it’s our responsibility.”
