Joe Cole challenges Issa Diop to ‘step out of the shadows’ for West Ham v Lyon
Joe Cole has issued a last-gasp challenge to West Ham defender Issa Diop, after he was named in the starting line-up for the massive Europa League clash against Lyon.
Diop starts for the first time March 2nd in place of the injured Kurt Zouma, as the Hammers look to reach the Europa League semi-finals for the first time in their history.
But after some poor performances this season and some question marks over his ability at this level, BT Sport pundit Cole believes he must show his quality in this game if he wants to have a future at the London Stadium.
“For me, Diop, I’ll know after 45 minutes looking at him,” he said.
“This is a crucial game for him personally, for his West Ham career.
“This is the moment where he can step out of the shadows and become the player he should become been, because he’s got all the attributes.
“He’s a big strong lad, he can play.”
Huge
This is without a doubt the biggest game of the season for West Ham United and for Issa Diop to be involved is not something most fans would have chosen if they had the option.
Zouma’s ankle injury against Brentford is one that had been a fear all season, especially after Angelo Ogbonna’s serious knee injury ruled him out for the season and no replacement was brought in during January.
But Diop has shown in the past that he is capable of turning in huge performances, with Jose Mourinho once labelling him as a ‘monster’ and being linked with a mega-money move for him.
His development has stalled in the last 18 months or so, but there is a player in there. As Cole said, he has the raw attributes to succeed in the Premier League and this is a big chance for him to show it.
Diop needs to have a huge performance in this game for West Ham to have a chance of progressing, and if he can do that then he may be saving his Hammers career in the process.
In other West Ham news, Michael Owen predicts result of ‘huge’ West Ham Europa League clash v Lyon
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