'Fuming' - Roy Keane criticises West Ham decision to not start January signing in key game

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has aimed criticism at West Ham United and David Moyes for not starting Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips in their game against the Red Devils at the weekend.

Keane said, following the decision to leave the England international out of the starting XI, he thinks Phillips would have been 'fuming'. Despite this, the Irishman also sympathised with the call somewhat, citing Phillips' lack of game time over the last couple of years and his spotty injury record.

At City, Phillips struggled manfully to break into the first team ahead of Rodri. In total, the former Leeds United midfielder could only muster 16 Premier League appearances since joining the Sky Blues in the summer of 2022.

In the game against United on Sunday, West Ham fell to a 3-0 defeat, despite firing off more shots and arguably dominating lengthy spells of the outing. Phillips was brought on in the 72nd minute for Vladimir Coufal, failing to make much of an impression - however, this may have been different had he been a part of the starting line-up.

What did Roy Keane say about Kalvin Phillips?

Speaking on Sky Sports [via TalkSPORT], Keane said: "From the player's point of view I think he'd be fuming. You go to get some games, he played 70 minutes, he's a sitting midfielder, you use your intelligence there in terms of when to sprint and when to sit in.

"Obviously David Moyes will be worried about it in terms of picking up an injury quickly but from the player's point of view, he has to get minutes under his belt, he has to get games. Remember he's on loan from [Manchester] City, he's going to Old Trafford and now he's sitting on the bench. Obviously David Moyes is an experienced manager but I think from the player's point of view, he'll be fuming."