Julen Lopetegui should turn to West Ham United gem after what Edson Alvarez did
West Ham United ace Edson Alvarez getting red-carded in their 3-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday could have handed Lewis Orford a golden opportunity.
It’s no secret that the Hammers’ performances this season have left a lot to be desired as the club currently sits 14th in the Premier League table.
While some of their outings, like their 2-1 win over Manchester United, have shown that Julen Lopetegui’s men are capable of gutting out victories, it seems that consistency is something that’s missing from the team.
Guido Rodriguez was one of the many players welcomed through the London Stadium doors in the summer and, while his addition was supposed to help alleviate some pressure from the shoulders of Alvarez and Tomas Soucek, his arrival hasn’t had as much of an impact as anyone would’ve liked.
Both of Lopetegui’s defensive-midfielders have been below-par this term which is why, now Alvarez is set to be sidelined for a few games, Orford should be given a shot at proving his worth in West Ham’s first-team.
Why West Ham United should give Lewis Orford a chance
In the summer, West Ham refused to go ahead with a move for Aston Villa ace Jhon Duran that would have seen Orford move to the the Villans.
This resulted in David Sullivan offering the youngster a contract extension, which shows the ceiling that the Hammers believe the youngster potentially has.
The performances of Alvarez and Rodriguez have been poor this season and the fact the Mexico international has already received two red cards this season shows how much of a liability he’s been to the club.
Orford has played a very regular role in the Hammers’ Under-21s squad this term as he’s already made 11 appearances and has managed to chip in with four assists.
The 18-year-old may not have yet made his debut for Lopetegui’s senior squad but if he’s afforded the chance to prove his worth, he could be the answer to West Ham’s defensive midfielder woes.
In other West Ham news, Jamie O’Hara has torn into the Hammers after their 3-0 loss against Nottingham Forest.
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