Julen Lopetegui can fend off West Ham sack with simple change v Newcastle
West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal has referred to himself as a “fighter” and his inclusion against Newcastle United could fend off the sack talk aimed at Julen Lopetegui.
The Czech international has found game time limited under Julen Lopetegui, with summer signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka preferred at right back although a change should be made for their trip to St James Park on Monday, 25 November.
Coufal has made just five Premier League appearances so far this season but his attitude and dedication to fight for the club puts him in an excellent position to start against Newcastle and Lopetegui has to consider it if he wants to keep his job.
In an interview on the Hammers’ club site (24 November), Coufal claimed: “I have to fight for my spot, but I have always been and always will be a fighter and won’t give up my position without a challenge.
Vladimir Coufal is an excellent squad player at West Ham
Coufal has been an excellent servant for the irons throughout the four years he has been at the club but the signing of Wan-Bissaka has somewhat overshadowed his ability.
Wan-Bissaka is a top-level full-back in the prime of his career whilst the Czech international is approaching the end of his and his regular inclusion in the starting XI looks unlikely going forward but he must be utilised more often.
Lopetegui has benched Coufal for the large part of his tenure and while the Hammers have been poor in general, the performances of Wan-Bissaka have warranted his place in the team.
The 32-year-old didn’t do his selection chances any favours over the international break, failing to perform for Czech Republic but inclusion against Newcastle could provide him with the platform to rekindle the form that saw him become somewhat of a cult hero at the London Stadium in previous seasons.
Ultimately, Coufal is a squad player at the London Stadium now, a very good one at that. But whether he is happy with that role in the squad is yet to be seen and if those ommissions continue, an exit could be on the cards in the near future and it would be a huge blow for the Irons.
Coufal would likely be a starter for most of the sides in the bottom half of the Premier League and to him, it may seem a waste of the final years of his career to be sitting on the bench for a side largely underperforming.
In other West Ham news, Niclas Fullkrug’s future is in doubt as Julen Lopetegui eyes a January move for an international striker.
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