Former boss Alan Pardew has spoken of his delight at seeing West Ham do so well under David Moyes and has talked up our Irons chances of winning the Europa League this season.

Pardew oversaw a largely successful spell as manager of West Ham, having gained promotion to the Premier League in 2005, followed by an FA Cup final appearance the following season.

The former boss has spoken to the media ahead of our clash with another former side of his, Newcastle, this weekend, and Pardew has been very complimentary of the work of David Moyes.

“He had built a really good side and with some of the teams around them perhaps not as strong as they should be – Manchester United and Spurs in particular – it gives West Ham a real fighting chance of what David did at Everton and that is get them into that Champions League spot,” said Pardew.

“I almost did it with Newcastle many moons ago but it is very difficult, it’s an exclusive area. My best wishes go to David and his team and I really hope he does that.

“At the top of the pitch the team looks quite stable, with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen. Further back the two players from the Czech Republic, Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal, really give them some fire power which a lot of teams in the Premier League, I would suggest, would be very envious of.

“The Club has made some excellent signings with Jarrod the pick because I didn’t see too many people queuing up to take him from Hull.

“As for Michail, I was his manager at Southampton. I’ve always loved him and I’m very pleased he is doing well.

“And then there is Declan Rice, I’ve watched him live a couple of times and he has a standing about him. Not many players have that aura about them but Declan does. There have been games where I watched him a bit more flamboyant with his runs and his passing and that took him up another level. All West Ham fans, including myself, hope the Club can hold onto him.

“I can understand that David has to answer questions about Declan at every press conference and his name comes up in every transfer window because he has that presence on a football pitch that other clubs will want.”

West Ham have a mouth watering last 16 round of the Europa League on the horizon, and Pardew believes our Irons have a real fighting chance of going all the way.

“To win the Europa League would be a real feather in West Ham and David’s cap – and they have a chance. It will be hard because the club I’m working with at the moment, CSKA Sofia, know the strength of that competition.

“It’s always very hard to get past some of these teams over two legs but it could be one of those special seasons for West Ham and I hope it will be.”