Exclusive: McAvennie wants Benrahma to get more game-time at West Ham
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
David Moyes must hand attacker Said Benrahma a run of games in the West Ham side, according to Frank McAvennie.
Benrahma, 25, has managed to earn just three Premier League starts for the Irons since arriving on loan from Brentford in October.
The Algeria international has played a further six times off the bench for the Hammers and has managed to impress a lot of fans with his brief performances.
McAvennie believes it is about time we see the Algeria international play more often.
“I would like to see the boy Benrahma get more game-time because he deserves it,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“He needs a run [of games]. David Moyes has got to do it because he’s a good player.”
Earlier this week, Moyes was quoted by the Evening Standard as saying that Benrahma needs to work on his ball-retention and decision-making in order to get more starts.
According to McAvennie, Moyes will be working hard with Benrahma on the training ground in order to improve that.
He added: “The fans who’ve watched every game will be able to tell you more than me but he’s a good player. On the ball, he might give the ball away but maybe David’s working on it.
“The boy’s happy to come on and all that so I think David will be working with him and telling him what he thinks, telling him what he wants in his team. It’s down to the boy to do that.”
Benrahma played all 90 minutes for the first time for West Ham on New Year’s Day when they beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park.
In that match, the Algerian completed 73 per cent of his passes, failed to complete any crosses and lost possession 19 times.
It’s definitely something Benrahma could work on more but the Hammers are unbeaten in the three games he’s started this season.
He’s a player who is going to lose the ball. He takes risks with his passes and his runs and his deliveries into the penalty area so there are going to be occasions when he hands possession to other side.
Moyes doesn’t want to see his team lose the ball. That’s fair enough.
But if you don’t take risks then you’re unlikely to go very far in an attacking sense and that’s what Benrahma is all about.
In other West Ham news, Moyes is limiting Benrahma in his central role.