West Ham man Pablo Fornals showed glimpses of what he is capable of away at Wolves last night.
But there is still a massive problem. Manuel Pellegrini insists on playing the Spaniard out on the left wing.
The 23-year-old joined the Hammers from Villarreal for £24 million in the summer. He has struggled to settle at the London Stadium, however.
Fornals has racked up just one goal and one assist in 16 appearances for West Ham thus far.
He really was poor during the first two or three months of the campaign.
But Fornals has shown glimpses in the last two games what he is capable of. He worked his socks off against Chelsea, and showed some really impressive facets of his game away at Wolves last night.
The Spaniard is playing with one hand tied behind his back, however. Pellegrini stubbornly keeps playing him out on the left wing, where he is completely ineffective.
The 23-year-old has no pace whatsoever – something that is a real problem when he is trying to make a difference on the flank.
Fornals is an incredibly intelligent footballer and he has exceptional technique.
He is perfectly suited to play the number 10 role, or even as an orthodox central midfielder. His passing and vision would be a massive asset to West Ham, if he is used in the correct position.
How Pellegrini cannot see this is baffling, and rather worrying.
The Chilean should try Nathan Holland out wide left, and have Felipe Anderson and Fornals in behind whoever he plays up front.
It is clear to see that this would benefit West Ham massively, and the Spaniard. Whether the stubborn Hammers boss will ever mix things up, however, is another matter entirely.
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