Once again, West Ham find themselves in an injury crisis of sorts.
Andriy Yarmolenko was stretchered off against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend. And he looks like the latest player to suffer a long-term injury at West Ham.
But this bad stroke of luck could present a massive opportunity for a West Ham academy graduate.
Can Diangana take advantage of Yarmolenko’s ill-fated injury and stake his claim for a permanent first-team spot?
Injury list
West Ham’s injury list continues to grow. At the start of the season, Andy Carroll, Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini were the three long-term absentees.
But they have been joined by Carlos Sanchez, Jack Wilshere and now Yarmolenko on the long-term injury list.
With Pedro Obiang also missing for the Spurs game, West Ham’s ranks are severely depleted.
Could this be the chance that Diangana needs to take the next step in his West Ham career?
Grady Diangana’s chance to shine?
It sometimes takes unusual circumstances for players to make it at the top level. You have to be in the right place at the right time.
And Diangana is breaking through into the first-team just as one of his main competitors suffers a long-term injury.
Felipe Anderson has nailed down one starting spot. But the other is up for grabs.
Diangana’s main rivals now are Robert Snodgrass and Michail Antonio. He is bound to get some game time.
The 20-year-old is an exciting talent and if he can adjust to the demands of first-team football, he could secure a permanent spot in the senior side.
This must be the motivation for Diangana. He will not get many better opportunities than this so early in his career.
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