Opinion: If 23-year-old doesn’t start for West Ham against FCSB, there’s something seriously wrong

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We truly believe that if Flynn Downes doesn’t start for West Ham against FCSB on Thursday night, then there is something seriously wrong.

That is if he isn’t injured of course and is fully fit.

READ…Alex Crook shares what Moyes did in the referee’s room after West Ham’s defeat to Chelsea

Hammers boss David Moyes brought the 23-year-old to the London Stadium early on in the summer window for around £12 million (Sky Sports).

When he joined West Ham, we were exclusively told by Swansea expert Guto Llewelyn that Downes is an ‘outstanding’ young player.

He has hardly played since moving to East London from Wales though. In fact, Moyes has given Downes just 29 minutes of action so far this season (Transfermarkt).

So what is actually going on?

Well, Moyes has already suggested that the 23-year-old midfielder needs to do better in training.

There has to be a time when the Scot throws Downes into the mix though, and gives him a full match to prove his worth. There will be no time like Thursday night in my opinion…

Downes surely must start for West Ham vs FCSB

Now, the Hammers are far superior to the Romanian outfit.

So Moyes won’t need to select his strongest XI for West Ham’s UEFA Europa Conference League group stage opener.

Tomas Soucek definitely needs a rest. He has played so much football over the past two years or so.

We think Downes needs to come in to play alongside Declan Rice. If Moyes never gives the 23-year-old a chance, he won’t be able to show his manager what qualities he possesses on the pitch.

Thursday night at home to FCSB is the ideal chance for Moyes to start Downes. The Romanians shouldn’t be anywhere near us physically or technically.

If Downes doesn’t start though, we will have to assume that something is very wrong. And that then opens another can of worms.

If he isn’t good enough, why did Moyes sign him so quickly without his usual due diligence? Moyes has suggested numerous times that he scouts players extensively before signing him. So perhaps this one was a little rushed. He is represented by the Wasserman agency, who have links with Mark Warburton via his daughter.

Who knows? Maybe he was brought in because of that relationship and because it was just an easy, and fairly cheap, deal to get done.

I believe we’ll find out a lot about what Moyes actually thinks of Downes on Thursday night when West Ham face FCSB.

If the 23-year-old is left on the bench again, questions need to be asked regarding why he was signed in the first place…

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