Only way is up for Downes

FLYNN FLYING AGAIN AFTER MISERY WITH MOYES

- ALEX SMITH

FLYNN DOWNES has blamed David Moyes for losing his mojo but insists Russell Martin has found it again at Southampton.

Midfielder Downes only started nine games for West Ham under Moyes, and managed just 753 minutes in the Premier League last season, before moving to Saints on loan last week.

“It’s hard when you’re playing one week and then you’re not playing for a month or so,” said Downes, 24, who is set to make his full Saints debut away to Sunderland at lunchtime.

“You lose bits and bobs. You can run all you want to keep the fitness but you just lose something.

“At Swansea before that I was playing week in week out and I felt like I was playing at my best. Hopefully I can get back to that.”