By West Ham Zone speaking to Frank McAvennie

27th Sep, 2022 | 10:10am

Pundit wants Craig Dawson back in West Ham United starting line up 'as quick as'

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…

Craig Dawson should go straight into the West Ham starting lineup after returning from injury recently, according to Frank McAvennie.

The Hammers have had a number of defensive injuries so far this season and that has played a part in their poor start to the season as they sit in the relegation zone with five defeats from seven games.

But after scoring on his return to action in the UEFA Europa Conference League with a header, he was left on the bench for the Premier League clash with Everton as they were beaten again.

But McAvennie believes that he should go right into the starting team for West Ham’s next game with Wolves on Saturday afternoon, because he’s exactly what the team has been missing at the back.

“I think he’s got to get right in,” he told West Ham Zone. “You can’t beat experience and I think he’s got to be put right back in.

“He’s a no-nonsense centre half, that’s what we need. He doesn’t mess about, he doesn’t dribble out of the back, he just clears it. Clears it. Clears his lines, puts his tackles in, gets his body in front of the ball and that’s all you can ask for from a centre half.

“He’s got to come back in as quick as.”

After two weeks with no football due to the international break he should now be fully fit again and Moyes could look to adopt a five-at-the-back formation in order to add more solidity to the team and potentially save his job.

However there is also the possibility of moving Thilo Kehrer to right-back and allowing Dawson to slot in next to Kurtz Zouma in the middle after their excellent partnership last season.