The Jarrod Bowen injury presents West Ham fan boy Armstrong Oko-Flex with a big chance after unacceptable displays from others.
West Ham fans are reeling at the news Bowen is set to miss the club’s biggest game in decades when they take on Sevilla in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday night.
The in-form Hammers attacker injured his heel in the defeat to Liverpool and while West Ham have confirmed there is no significant damage, a club insider has confirmed he will not travel to Spain for the game.
Going on first team experience that would mean either Nikola Vlasic or Said Benrahma will come into the West Ham side in Bowen’s absence.
But after some frankly unacceptable displays from the £58m duo, surely the youngster West Ham fans have been championing all season will get his big chance?
Hammers supporters have been calling for Armstrong Oko-Flex to be let loose in the first team.
Jarrod Bowen injury presents West Ham fan boy Armstrong Oko-Flex with big chance after unacceptable displays
The former Arsenal and Celtic youngster has been on fire for West Ham’s development side and featured heavily in pre-season, impressing with his pace, trickery and finishing.
Oko-Flex has proved he can finish and West Ham fans have been frustrated at his lack of game time given the poor performances from Benrahma and Vlasic.
Both players have been terrible with Vlasic failing to show any real signs of establishing himself and justifying his price tag or Moyes’s faith in him.
Benrahma has been brought to West Ham to provide goals and assists. And the harsh truth is not only does the Algerian fail to provide enough of either, he also does not perform consistently well for the team.
Oko-Flex has been in and around the first team squad of late.
And given his attributes and position, surely it is time he gets his chance, even if it is off the bench in Seville.
He would be something of an unknown quantity for the opposition and has that key commodity for top level football – PACE.
West Ham have been running on fumes for months.
Playing the same players in the same system over and over is not going to change anything.
So why not give Oko-Flex his chance to prove whether he has what it takes. What has Moyes got to lose?
Because at the moment, Vlasic and Benrahma are completely flattering to deceive and look shot of any confidence.
Oko-Flex would bring that important youthful exuberance to the team and just the right time.
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