Nuno Espirito Santo says competition for places is stopping Adama Traore from playing regularly for West Ham United.
Traore has only made one start since joining West Ham United from Wednesday’s opponents Fulham and that came in the FA Cup away at Burton.
Nuno didn’t even turn to Traore when his side needed a goal against Bournemouth late last month, but the West Ham head coach insists that the 30-year-old is understanding of his situation.
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Indeed, Nuno was asked about the Spaniard’s start to life at the club during his pre-match press conference against Fulham.
He said: “We’ve been trying every day to help him. He’s had spells in the game, but of course ahead of him he has two players at the top of their game [in Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville], and he’s patient enough to realise his chance will come.”
Adama has intense competition for places at West Ham
The Irons boss also stressed that the player had made a good start to life in east London following his move from Fulham.
Nuno added: “I think the squad has accepted him really well. He has brought new energy to us.”
West Ham fans haven’t been impressed with Traore so far but these are still early days. He’s only been handed 107 minutes of action across five games thus far, so it’s still too early to judge.
His major issue is one Jarrod Bowen. Bowen, of course, is a West Ham United legend and currently operates on the right wing, the position to which Traore is most naturally suited.
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While Bowen hasn’t exactly been in great form himself, it’s impossible to imagine him being dropped in favour of Traore.
Nuno is right to point out that Crysencio Summerville is also undroppable right now. In fact, it’d be hard to make a case for any player in the Premier League to start ahead of the Dutchman based on current form.
Still, the idea of ever seeing Traore operate on the left – Summerville’s position – always seemed somewhat remote.
Traore’s versatility could also see him operate as a wing-back but West Ham haven’t been using them recently, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka continues to shine at right-back.
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