West Ham face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. And David Moyes must consider bringing Issa Diop back into the side.
In other news…’I know he likes me’: £6.2m West Ham ace shares what Moyes told him after City draw
Fabian Balbuena has deputised superbly well for Diop over the past month or so.
But there is one thing that the Paraguayan badly lacks – pace. The 29-year-old’s lack of mobility is a real worry at times.
And with Liverpool on the horizon, playing Balbuena at Anfield could end up being extremely costly.
The Reds always overload the left wing with Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson tearing down the flank.
Considering the fact that Balbuena plays on the right side of a back three, that is a real worry.
So Moyes must bring Diop back into the side. The Frenchman has been inconsistent over the past 12 months. But he does possess pace as one of his key attributes.
One weekend last season, the 23-year-old clocked the third fastest speed out of every player in the Premier League:
Diop is younger, more mobile and far more energetic than Balbuena. He might not be as good in the air or at anticipating attacks as the Paraguay international is.
But the ability to cover ground may well be far more important against Liverpool. And the 23-year-old Frenchman has that ability in abundance.
Diop moved to the London Stadium from Toulouse for around £22 million in the summer of 2018 (BBC).
The Frenchman hasn’t really kicked on from there. But Liverpool away on Saturday could be a big opportunity for him to make a big statement.
Whether West Ham boss David Moyes gives him the chance to do just that, however, remains to be seen.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
