There have been a number of standout performers during West Ham United’s fine start to the season.
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But none have exceeded expectations as much as Aaron Cresswell.
Once a speedy, rampaging, evergreen left-back, Cresswell has seen his star fade in recent seasons.
It all stems from a serious knee injury sustained in pre-season.
And he has never looked the same player since in his usual left-back position – where he had performed so well for West Ham he was twice called up to the England squad under Gareth Southgate.
The evolution of Aaron
But Cresswell has been revolutionised as West Ham’s left-sided centre-back in David Moyes’s new wing wing-back formation.
Cresswell is less exposed defensively, is required to do less running up and down the wing and has more space when he does venture forward to send in crosses.
That has led to three assists in recent matches.
And he was in fine form again during the 1-0 win over Fulham, going close to scoring and doing a good job nullifying Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Jenas raves about Cresswell and backs him for England recall
Tomas Soucek got the winning goal. But it was Cresswell’s performance that caught the eye of Match of the Day pundit Jermaine Jenas.
The former Spurs man waxed lyrical about Cresswell and even suggested he should earn an England recall.
“We’ve had (Keiron) Trippier playing at left-back at times for England and this guy’s (Cresswell) playing out of his skin,” Jenas told Match of the Day after Gary Lineker suggested the West Ham star ‘must be knocking on the door for England’.
“We’ve got here a player who is playing left of a three, he can play left-back and he’s almost one of West Ham’s most creative players.
‘He’s a threat to every team he comes up against’
“What a strike (he hit on the volley), we saw one of his set pieces he whipped in there, he’s got to deal with Mitrovic at the back post (and) the positioning he gets himself into has been brilliant.
“And he’s a threat! He’s been a threat to every team that he’s come up against.
“He gets himself into these midfield positions and he just could have put the icing on the cake (with his free-kick which went close).”
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