West Ham star steals the show in training to pile pressure on Julen Lopetegui for Fulham start. They say you should train the way you play and if that’s the case then one West Ham star simply has to start at Fulham.
West Ham head to Fulham on Saturday afternoon and it is a game they should be looking to win. The Hammers have undergone an extensive rebuild this summer with nine new signings and 12 departures.
West Ham are a work in progress under Julen Lopetegui. But with European football the aim, a trip to Fulham represents a realistic opportunity for three points for the Irons.
Lopetegui has got off to an indifferent start in east London. West Ham have showed some signs of progress in passing and possession.
Some supporters have been a touch underwhelmed by the new head coach’s team selection, though. Despite all the new arrivals, Lopetegui has elected to drip-feed many of them into the side.
West Ham star steals the show in training
Niclas Fullkrug, Jean-Clair Todibo and Crysencio Summerville have been held back. West Ham’s £20m capture, Luis Guilherme, has not even been in the Premier League squads.
An injury to Niclas Fullkrug has given Lopetegui a big decision to make this weekend. It has been claimed medical tests brought positive news about the Fullkrug blow and he will only miss the Fulham clash.
But Michail Antonio has been poor this season and played for Jamaica on Wednesday. Usually West Ham would not risk Antonio in two games close together to protect his hamstrings.
Regardless of Antonio’s availability, many Hammers fans have been calling for Lopetegui to make a big change. It involves playing Jarrod Bowen up front, Mohammed Kudus on the right and new boy Summerville on the left.
Summerville piles pressure on Lopetegui for Fulham start
Now a West Ham star has stolen the show in training to pile pressure on Lopetegui for a Fulham start.
Summerville has already impressed in cameo appearances so far.
The flying Dutchman has gone from being the first name on the teamsheet at Leeds to having to settle for a place on West Ham’s bench so far.
Summerville didn’t even get off the bench for the win at Palace. After that game he was spotted on camera being consoled by the likes of Tomas Soucek.
Afterwards Summerville made a cryptic post on social media saying ‘If God is making you wait, then be prepared to receive more than you asked for’. .But he was a breath of fresh air coming on against Man City, going agonisingly close to scoring and causing the champions problems.
Summerville is desperate to get a call-up for the Dutch squad and it was one of his motivations in joining West Ham. The 22-year-old was overlooked by Ronald Koeman for the latest international break.
But that may have been the best thing that has happened to him it seems. Because Summerville is the standout player in footage of training that West Ham have posted on their official YouTube channel this evening.
The £26m signing looks razor sharp as he twists players inside out and bangs in a couple of brilliant goals. He really can do no more in terms of impressing the manager.
With Fullkrug out, this is Lopetegui’s chance to test out what promises to be a seriously threatening frontline.
Fulham will not want to face Summerville, Kudus and Bowen. Not many teams will be able to cope with that kind of power, pace and skill. Now it’s over to the boss but on this evidence Summerville is Crying out to start.
