Pundit: Danny Ings shouldn’t play for West Ham United unless Michail Antonio starts alongside him
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 believes that Danny Ings shouldn’t play for West Ham unless he’s in a strike duo with Michail Antonio as he “can’t play on his own”.
Ings joined the club in a £15m deal from Aston Villa in January with Moyes keen to add more goals to his squad as they battled against relegation, but he has managed just two Premier League goals since the move.
Michail Antonio has now leapfrogged him in the pecking order with Gianluca Scamacca out for the season with a knee injury, but McAvennie feels that Ings should only play alongside Antonio or not at all because he can’t do it.
“Ings can’t play on his own,” he told West Ham Zone.
“I think he’s a great striker but he can’t play on his own, so why play him up front on his own? I don’t get it.
“Everyone can see that. He’s never played on his own. They’ve bought a few like this before. I wouldn’t even try him.
“He can’t do the holding up work that you need to bring others in. Ings can’t do that. He’ll put the ball in the net. He’s got to play with Antonio or he doesn’t play at all. Don’t play him on his own.”
Antonio has managed four goals and one assist in his last six appearances to help the team reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals and move away from relegation in the Premier League.