Some praise for James Tomkins.
When Sam Allardyce was appointed Sunderland manager, he was immediately linked via the media, to West Ham United defender, James Tomkins.
I have to say, I have been impressed by Tomkins this season. I feared he had lost his way when he got himself arrested a couple of Christmases ago, however, since then, he seems to have knuckled down.
He must have feared the worst, especially when Slaven Bilic splashed out on Angelo Ogbonna. And with Winston Reid signing a new contract, he was always going to be back up to these two, however, he staked a claim for the right back slot, when Jenkinson was ineligible against his parent club in the first game of the season.
Tomkins was dropped for the games against Leicester and Bournemouth, with Jenkinson coming in but not really performing. But here is an interesting fact: West Ham have not lost a game that Tomkins has started this season.
Tomkins attitude has been first class. He could have moved on in the summer, but he is fighting for his place, and I think this has made him produce his best football for the club.
So if Allardyce thinks he’s going to come sniffing round our best talent; well you can think again!