This is the player Nuno can count on most to drag West Ham out of trouble – it’s not Jarrod Bowen
Nuno Espirito Santo’s reign at West Ham could not have gotten off to a worse start.
The Hammers lost 2-1 to Leeds on Friday has left them sitting 19th in the table, and there are now genuine concerns that they might be relegated.
Nuno has a huge job on his hands, and West Ham are now predicted to be relegated as fans continue to fume over the current state of the club.
Mateus Fernandes scored against Leeds on Friday, and Nuno must count on the Portuguese star in the next run of matches.
Mateus Fernandes has not had the chance to prove himself yet
Fernandes‘ deft header on Friday may not have meant much in the grand scheme of the match, yet it would have signalled that he is far too good to be starting on the bench.
Having joined West Ham for a fee of £42million from Southampton, Fernandes excelled on his debut against Nottingham Forest.
Since his introduction into the starting lineup, Fernandes has been one of West Ham’s standout performers, and it’s on Nuno to get the best out of him.
| Stat | Fernandes |
| Minutes played | 471 |
| Appearances | 7 |
| Pass accuracy | 90.5% |
| Tackles | 16 |
| Touches | 271 |
The 21-year-old has often featured on the right side of central midfield alongside Lucas Paqueta, yet the last two matches have suggested that he has not played to Nuno’s standards.
Fernandes was subbed off at half-time against Brentford, before being dropped for Andy Irving in the Leeds defeat.
Nuno has already angered supporters with some of his team selections, and he should face further criticism if Fernandes isn’t starting every match for the Hammers.
His quality on the ball is undeniable, and he offers something to the West Ham team that very others can.
Mateus Fernandes has the potential to become West Ham’s best midfielder
Fernandes has excelled for the Portugal U21 squad, registering seven goal contributions in 15 matches for his national side.
Having joined Southampton ahead of the 2024-2025 season, it was clear that he was their most talented player in their dismal campaign.
Whilst the fee seems steep at this moment, Fernandes’ rise through Sporting’s academy has clearly shown that he can develop into one of the most talented midfielders in the league.
What must also be stressed is that a player that costs that much money cannot be left out of the starting lineup when West Ham are at risk of dropping down to the Championship for the first time since 2021-2022.
Nuno must play to Fernandes’ strengths, and if he does, then it’ll significantly improve West Ham’s chances of Premier League survival.
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