Pundit backs Pablo Fornals to step up in Maxwel Cornet’s absence for West Ham United
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…
Frank McAvennie has backed Pablo Fornals to claim his starting spot back at West Ham after Maxwel Cornet’s injury, following the win over Fulham.
The Ivorian winger suffered a calf injury against Wolves last weekend and missed the wins over Anderlecht and Fulham since, with Spaniard Fornals getting the nod in the Premier League win on Sunday [9 October].
And after a solid performance saw the Hammers claim a third win in a row for the first time this season, former striker McAvennie has backed Fornals to keep his place in the side just like he did when Jesse Lingard first arrived at the London Stadium.
“They’ve got players there,” he told West Ham Zone. “Fornals hasn’t been doing it.
“But remember when they brought Jesse Lingard in and I thought Fornals would drop out of the team, but Fornals stepped up and they kept him in. Other players were dropped for Lingard.
“He won’t be happy sitting on the bench Fornals and not getting his place to this new guy, so when he’s injured you’ve got to take your place back. So he’ll be fighting tooth and nail to get in there.
“But they’ve got a couple of players. West Ham have got a couple of wide players that they can call on.
“They could also put Antonio there because he used to play there, and then he could go up and help Scamacca up front. So it would be different. They’ve got players.”
Fornals has started all but one game in the Premier League this season, with his only goal coming in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa back in August.
Cornet is expected to miss around two weeks of action, so Fornals will be looking to keep his place for next weekend’s clash with Southampton at St Mary’s.