Pundit urges David Moyes to trust Ben Johnson to replace Vladimir Coufal in West Ham United clash v Manchester 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 wants David Moyes to trust Ben Johnson to replace Vladimir Coufal at right-back when West Ham take on Manchester United on Sunday.
The Hammers lost Coufal to a hamstring problem in the 3-0 loss to Manchester City on Wednesday (3 May), leaving them with a problem at the back as they’re thin on options.
Thilo Kehrer filled in at centre-back for the injured Kurt Zouma and ill Nayef Aguerd, but McAvennie hopes that Moyes will trust the academy graduate to step in and play rather than shuffling the team around for Sunday’s game (7 May).
“I don’t think so because he was off the boil for a bit and then Johnson was playing right-back,” he told West Ham Zone.
“I don’t know how they’re going to do it [without him]. Coufal’s been good, he’s been tough. It won’t have been easy going up against Grealish, old Elvis hips. Coufal must’ve been spinning in his bed.
“I don’t know how Johnson will come in and react. He’s got to come in and his teammates have got to trust him.
“Unless he [David] plays three big centre-halves or uses someone out of position.
“But then you won’t get that movement down the right that Coufal offers. Johnson will do that.”
Zouma is unlikely to be available but West Ham are hopeful that Aguerd, Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek will be well enough to return for the game which could see Kehrer moved across to right-back.