Ray Parlour baffled by what Lopetegui has done with West Ham ace Summerville
Ray Parlour and Alan Brazil are both baffled by the lack of minutes Julen Lopetegui has afforded Crysencio Summerville at West Ham this season.
talkSPORT Breakfast show co-hosts Brazil and Parlour (talkSPORT, 3 January, 08:59) indirectly slammed Hammers boss Lopetegui for his apparent reluctance to start the Dutchman, who joined in the summer from Leeds United in a £25million deal.
Summerville has started just one of the Hammers’ last six Premier League games, the table in which his side sit a lowly 13th.
“I agree with you on Summerville, Ray, because he’s one of them who gets you on the edge of your seat,” Brazil said.
Parlour added: “Yeah. He takes people on, he commits people and his work-rate is very good, so I’m really surprised he doesn’t start more games.”
Crysencio Summerville to shine in Bowen absence at West Ham
West Ham were sent reeling as their 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool (29 December) last time out was compounded by Jarrod Bowen’s foot injury.
The England star is expected to miss several weeks on the sidelines, enforcing Lopetegui perhaps to throw Summerville into the mix.
The 23-year-old is likely to be catapulted into the spotlight and relied upon to be one of the Irons’ most dominant creative outlets, with the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus anticipated to show more consistency.
Niclas Fullkrug is likely to act as the attacking focal point against Manchester City on Saturday (4 January), in a contest from which Lopetegui will not expect too many clear-cut chances or any real sustained spells of possession.
If Summerville and Fullkrug alike were to coincide a purple patch with an improved wider run of form for their side, Lopetegui may just – by more luck than judgement – have a springboard to turn his reign at the London Stadium around.
In other West Ham news, links emerge to a promising Premier League striker who has proven himself at the top level.
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