By Daniel Lewis

12th Sep, 2023 | 7:10pm

Mohammed Kudus selection not nailed on as West Ham United stat emerges

David Moyes is now blessed with an extra attacking option following the arrival of Mohammed Kudus at West Ham late in the transfer window.

The Ghana international made his debut in the closing seconds of United’s 2-1 win at Luton Town prior to the international break.

Assuming he returns from international duty fully fit, many will be hoping Kudus makes his full Hammers bow against Manchester City on Saturday [16 September].

However, the emergence of an interesting statistics suggests Moyes is perhaps better off easing Kudus into the side.

According to an article from The Analyst [12 September], the nine goals scored by West Ham after four matches has been bettered only once before by the club in their Premier League history, when scoring 10 times in 2021-22.

Indeed, the Hammers’ 10 points at this stage is their joint-best ever, alongside the 1999-2000 season.

Even without a truly recognised out-and-out striker – unless Michail Antonio can now be classed as one – West Ham have still scored at an average of 2.25 goals per game.

For comparison, they scored at a rate of 1.1 goals per game across the whole of last season’s Premier League campaign.

That is not to say there is no place in the West Ham side for Kudus, of course, but rather it may be better sticking with a winning formula for now.

All going to plan, the goals will keep flowing for West Ham’s attackers in order to keep the club in the higher reaches of the division.

In other West Ham news, the Hammers have been given some bad news as a key Manchester City figure is expected to be involved at the London Stadium next weekend.