WEST HAM PREPARE TO FACE BRENTFORD
DESPITE THE PREMIER LEAGUE WEEKEND BEING IN FULL SWING, THE HAMMERS HAVE AN EXTRA COUPLE OF DAYS TO PREPARE FOR THE VISIT OF BRENTFORD IN A LONDON DERBY OF SORTS.
ALTHOUGH NEITHER TEAM IS EXACTLY A DIRECT RIVAL, LOCAL BRAGGING RIGHTS ARE AT STAKE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WEST HAM ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO EAT INTO THEIR UNFORTUNATE POSITION IN THE LEAGUE TABLE, WHICH WILL SEE THEM REMAIN IN THE BOTTOM THREE UNTIL KICK-OFF IN THE CAPITAL. NUNO HAS PLENTY OF ISSUES TO SOLVE NOW THAT THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK HAS CONCLUDED, AND FORMER DENMARK KEEPER PETER KJAER SUGGESTS THAT WEST HAM SHOULD RECALL MADS HERMANSEN TO THE STARTING ELEVEN. THAT BEING SAID, NUNO HAS MUCH MORE PRESSING MATTERS, LIKE WEST HAM’S PROBLEMS IN ATTACK.
INJURY-PRONE STRIKER NICLAS FÜLLKRUG HAS TORN HIS THIGH, LEAVING CALLUM WILSON AND YOUNGSTER CALLUM MARSHALL AS NUNO’S ONLY OPTIONS TO CONTEST FOR THE NUMBER NINE ROLE. THIS STRIKING SHORTAGE WILL BE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, AND THERE IS NO EASY WAY AROUND THE ENFORCED CHANGES.
NEVERTHELESS, NUNO WILL HAVE TIME TO TINKER WITH HIS SIDE OVER THEIR UPCOMING HEAVY FIXTURE SCHEDULE, AND IT IS LIKELY THAT WINGER JARROD BOWEN COULD ONCE AGAIN PLAY A MAKESHIFT STRIKER ROLE.
WITH THAT IN MIND, THERE IS ONE MAN HE COULD TURN TO ELSEWHERE ON THE FIELD AS A CENTRAL POINT OF CREATIVITY AMID HIS RECENT DISPLAYS FOR THE CLUB — NUNO COULD TURN TO WEST HAM MAN CRYSENCIO SUMMERVILLE FOR INSPIRATION.
SPEAKING IN HIS PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE, NUNO ADMITTED HE COULD TAP INTO YOUNG WINGER CRYSENCIO SUMMERVILLE’S PACE AND AGILITY TO HELP GIVE WEST HAM AN EDGE IN THEIR UPCOMING FIXTURES.
NUNO SUGGESTS THAT WEST HAM’S PLAY COULD REVOLVE AROUND SUMMERVILLE’S SUCCESS IN THE ATTACKING AREAS AGAINST BRENTFORD, URGING HIS SIDE TO SUPPORT THE 23-YEAR-OLD. AFTER COMING UP WITH TWO ASSISTS IN HIS FIRST FIVE APPEARANCES, THE NETHERLANDS INTERNATIONAL HAS ENJOYED A RESPECTABLE START TO THE CAMPAIGN AND IS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION ON THE LEFT FLANK, COMPLETING SIX DRIBBLES SO FAR IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
ULTIMATELY, TIMES OF NEED CALL FOR ASSETS TO STEP UP AND DELIVER. SUMMERVILLE IS ENJOYING HIS CAMPAIGN FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, AND IT WOULDN’T BE A SURPRISE TO SEE HIS NUMBERS GROW FURTHER.
