West Ham United head coach David Moyes has revealed he will be keeping a close eye on a young Perth Glory prospect during the Premier League club’s time in Western Australia after a pre-tour ‘tip-off’.
Moyes and West Ham touched down in Perth on Tuesday night ahead of a friendly against Glory at Optus Stadium on Saturday, July 15 and a clash with London rivals Tottenham at the same venue on Tuesday, July 18.
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It’s the first time the Premier League club has returned to Perth since a 1995 tour of Australia; during that tour, the then-Hammers coach Harry Redknapp was so impressed by a young Stan Lazaridis playing for a Western Australia select XI in a 2-2 draw with his side that he signed him for just £300,000 (A$571,000) weeks later.
Moyes is familiar with Lazaridis’ story – and was asked before his side’s clash with Perth at Optus Stadium whether he’d be keeping his eye on any young Glory players who may be capable of repeating the feat.
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“Of course we will be,” Moyes said.
“Somebody has already tipped me off on a player – I won’t tell you who it is!
“Of course, it’s part of the job. You’re always looking to see what else is out there. We’re in pre-season training just now, we’re preparing. It’s very difficult to concentrate on opposition when you’re interest (is) on your own team. But at this time of year it’s a little bit easier, where you can stand back and watch the game, and see it a little bit better.”
Despite not specifying which Glory players may be on his radar, two teenagers stand out as possible candidates.
Joseph Forde, 19, is a Glory full-back and a Young Socceroo who has made 17 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances to date. Then there’s 17-year-old Daniel Bennie, who wrote headlines in June for a series of eye-catching performances with the Joeys at the U17 Asian Cup in Thailand; this week, he signed his first senior deal with the club.
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Asked about his knowledge of Aussie football, Moyes said he keeps tabs from afar, particularly on the progression of the national team, largely thanks to a certain Tim Cahill.
Moyes coached Cahill through the best years of the Socceroos legend’s career while at Everton in the Premier League.
“Tim Cahill is probably the main reason I’m keeping my eyes on Australian football,” he said.
“He (did) such an unbelievable job for me as a manager, but he had an incredible career and I’m sure will go on to continue working really well (where) he is at the moment.
“We keep an eye on it – we don’t know everything about it, but I keep an eye on the national team as well because we’re always looking to see what players are coming to the fore.”
Buy tickets to the Perth tour fixtures
Joining Moyes on media duties was England international and West Ham star Jarrod Bowen, who admitted the fanfare of the pre-season tour of Perth had taken him by surprise.
Bowen was a popular figure among the squad at an open training session at Macedonia Park on Wednesday, spending a significant amount of time signing autographs and taking pictures with fans who clamoured to get their own brief moment with the Hammers star.
“It is mental,” he said. “I’ve been on pre-season tours before, but I’ve never met fans, or had fans halfway across the world. It puts it into perspective how big it is to play for this club, and what it means just for a two-minute conversation with the fans.”
“I love seeing that reaction and people wanting to sign hats, different tops. It puts it into perspective and gives me a moment of pride.”
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Bowen and the rest of the West Ham squad wore training kits with the Tombides name adorned across the back throughout the open training session, and will continue to do so throughout the tour – it’s a tribute to former Hammer and Australian Dylan Tombides who, in 2014, passed away aged 20 due to testicular cancer.
On Thursday night, it was revealed the club’s principal front-of-shirt sponsor Betway had donated their sponsorship rights to the DT38 Foundation for the tour. DT38 is a charity founded by the Tombides family in Dylan’s memory to raise awareness and change the stigma associated with men’s health issues with a focus on testicular cancer.
“(Dylan was) a really great person. I was lucky enough to play with his brother Taylor at Hull for two years, so it’s a story I’ve been involved with Taylor for I don’t know how many years. Wearing the top yesterday for Taylor, for his brother, for his whole family, I know they appreciate it so much and it means so much to them. To do a little bit back for them for what they’ve done for the club, is really important.”
MATCH DETAILS
Perth Glory v West Ham United
Date: Saturday, 15 July 2023
Venue: Optus Stadium
Kick-Off: 8.00pm AEST/ 6.00pm (local)
Broadcast: 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
Date: Tuesday, 18 July 2023
Venue: Optus Stadium
Kick-Off: 8.00pm AEST/ 6.00pm (local)
Broadcast: 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+
You can tune in to both games on 10 Bold or stream via 10 Play or Paramount+.
Buy tickets to the Perth tour fixtures
