West Ham skipper Declan Rice has handed out the plaudits to summer signing Gianluca Scamacca after the Italian guided in a brilliantly taken goal for what was his first in the Premier League.
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Speaking after the important 2-0 win against Wolves to WHUFC.com, Rice said:
“We really wanted to go out there today and get the three points no matter how we played. We just wanted that win. We got that in the end and that is something to build on for the Fulham game.”
The skipper added: “There were spells when we played really well, spells when we didn’t do as well but we were resilient. We’ve got to keep building now; we need to keep pushing players, and we really need to keep kicking on.
The England international was not shocked by Scamacca finally finding his feet in the Premier League:
“He has probably scored about 20 worldies since he’s been here, and I’ve just gone: ‘wow; he can hit a ball.’
“When he gets the space, he can really deliver for us. So, I am buzzing that he scored. But his all-around contribution today, 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.”
No shock on Scamacca
There is a reason why Italy boss and former Premier League title winner Roberto Mancini issued a plea for patience on the former Sassuolo striker.
He clearly knows what the 23-year-old is capable of, and having witnessed “about 20 worldies” in training, so too does the £62k-per-week skipper Rice.
It is no coincidence that Scamacca scored 16 goals in the Serie A last term, and whilst his transition into England’s top flight was never guaranteed, the signs were there in the Europa League Conference games, to which he has scored three goals in so far.
It’s just a case of granting the Italy international regular minutes.
The game against Wolves was just his second start in the Premier League, and if he can build on this then he will no doubt find himself as a regular to lead the Hammers’ front-line.
It’s about consistency now, which we know he has, given his track record at Sassuolo last season.
But that is now four goals in ten appearances for Scamacca, who is showing signs of adaptation at the London Stadium.
