KATHRYN BATTE: Persistence pays off for Mohammed Kudus after nearly three months without scoring… as David Moyes hails his sublime ‘Roy of the Rovers’ solo goal against Freiburg

Mohammed Kudus had not scored for West Ham since December 23 last year. So when he squandered the chance to give his team a 2-1 lead against Freiburg on Thursday, one feared it might be one of those frustrating nights.

But his first goal in almost three months was to be much more special than just a close-range shot.

With his team 3-0, he recovered the ball in his own half and advanced. Three players tried to stop him and all failed. A wonderful race ended with a sublime finish.

Kudus then grabbed a stool from one of the West Ham ball boys to sit in his trademark celebration.

It was a goal Joe Cole said would be “talked about for decades” and his manager David Moyes described as the Roy of Rovers.

After dazzling defenders with his speed, the Ghanaian scored and celebrated in style

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“If anyone can remember the dribbling wingers who used to run and attack people, with snake hips, that was a bit of that tonight,” Moyes said.

“It was a brilliant individual goal, a Roy Rovers type goal.”

Kudus may not be familiar with that particular comparison, but it’s one that slightly older West Ham fans will appreciate.

The winger now has 15 goals in all competitions for the Hammers, 11 of them at the London Stadium.

It is clear that the Ghanaian is making a home for himself here. The 23-year-old has had a good start to his West Ham career, and even caught Moyes by surprise.

“It probably started better than I would have anticipated,” Moyes said in December.

He beat three Freiburg defenders and scored West Ham’s fourth goal of the afternoon.

Irons boss David Moyes described the sublime solo effort as a ‘Roy of the Rovers type goal’.

“He will improve as he gets used to the Premier League and the intensity of the games. I have been hugely impressed with how well he has done.”

Kudus has also previously commented on how he feels settled and how he has improved his game since arriving in east London.

“It (his relationship with Moyes) is good,” Kudus said last month.

“I’m still trying to learn every day as a team and as an individual to be the player I see myself being.” I have learned a lot from the coaching staff and also from the players.

“You have to give credit to the team and the coaches here for the quick start I had, as they helped me adapt very well and improve every day.”

But the winger has struggled since his return from the African Cup of Nations. His decline in form coincided with an eight-game winless streak earlier in the year.

Kudus scored the fifth goal of the match, giving the Hammers a 5-1 aggregate victory.

But in recent weeks there have been signs that he is starting to regain his best form, even if he was not rewarded with goals or assists. Against Freiburg his perseverance paid off.

After missing the easiest of their three opportunities, two spectacular goals followed.

If Kudus can reach the heights he reached during the first part of the campaign, he has every chance of helping West Ham achieve more success in Europe and a place in one of their competitions next season.