West Ham United manager David Moyes believes that summer signing Mohammed Kudus "can play a big role in the future" after the Ghanaian scored the equaliser in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League.
The Hammers were in front after just eight minutes courtesy of a Tomas Soucek tap-in, before a quickfire second-half brace from Alexander Isak helped Newcastle turn the game on its head, but less than 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute, Kudus rescued a point for the hosts with an 89th-minute equaliser.
Kudus celebrated his first Premier League since completing his £34m transfer from Ajax in August when he fired a low-driven shot into the bottom corner to force both sides to share the spoils at the London Stadium.
He has made five substitute outings for West Ham in the Premier League and is still waiting for his first start in the top flight, while he has started in both of the club's opening two Europa League group-stage games, scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Backa Topola last month.
Moyes has opted to ease Kudus into his first-team plans, but the Scotsman is confident that the attacker will play a significant role for the club in the future.
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Asked whether Kudus can force his way into the starting lineup now that he is off the mark in the Premier League, Moyes told BBC Sport: "He will be in the team for years to come so we are not in a huge hurry.
"The team is getting good results, but he can play a big role in the future."
Kudus was delighted to score his first Premier League goal as a West Ham player, telling the club's official website: "It feels very good of course (to score), but most importantly it has made a difference in the team which was us getting a point.
"Even though we wanted the three points, I was happy to score my first (Premier League) goal and most importantly we got a point out of the game.
"[West Ham have] Amazing fans. When we were 2-1 down and I was on the bench you could still feel the support, the energy from the fans. Thanks for them for that, I think it lifted the players' energy a lot so it was a great atmosphere today.
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"Everyone gave their best, we take a point and we learn from it. We are not satisfied, we aim even higher, we wanted three points today but we'll have to settle for this, take the point and focus on the next game after the (international) break.
"[Newcastle] are a very good side but we go into every game with the same mentality and the same approach. We wanted three points but it was good to get the draw."
Kudus has thanked everyone associated with West Ham for helping his settle in at the club, adding: "I feel there is still a lot more [to come from me]. The team, the coaches, everyone around the club are helping me a lot to settle in and they feel like a family already. The fans have been amazing as well.
"Credit to everyone around the whole team for helping me settle in quite well. I'm still learning and I feel there is still more for me to give."
West Ham remain seventh in the Premier League table, one point above Newcastle in eighth and three points behind the four, and they will return to action after the international break when they travel to Aston Villa on October 22.
Oliver Thomas
