West Ham United boss David Moyes needs to put faith in Sonny Perkins
West Ham have one of the Premier League’s most dynamic strikers in Michail Antonio and he’s had an excellent season across all competitions.
A total of 12 goals and 11 assists this season [Transfer Markt] shows just how complete his game has become having previously played as a right-back for Nottingham Forest at times before arriving at the Hammers.
But along with playing nearly every game for the Irons this season, he’s also had to endure very long trips to the Caribbean to play for Jamaica in World Cup qualifiers, with often three games every week due to the pandemic shortening the time to play said qualifiers in.
Despite his long haul travelling and endless playing of games, David Moyes has avoided resting him for the majority of the season, only doing so when the Europa League reached the semi-final stage where the Hammers were knocked out by Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Scot really needed to put his faith in one of the club’s academy stars who had been lighting up the Premier League 2 and one of them has made a big claim to be given a chance in the final game of the season.
Sonny Perkins has been named Premier League 2’s player of the month after a sensational April that saw him almost unstoppable in front of goal.
The 18-year-old has started just one game, a dead rubber at the end of the Europa League group stage, and got a couple of other substitute appearances here and there but that really isn’t enough for someone of his ability.
With only one game left to play, Moyes would be clever to give Perkins his chance and allow Antonio the break that he has richly deserved after such a tiring season but the faint hope of a Europa League qualification place might sway his decision to what he knows.
It’s a shame that Perkins hasn’t had more chances this season and he really should be getting games next season, whether at the London Stadium or out on loan in the Football League.
In other West Ham news, this Bundesliga speedster is high on Moyes’ summer shopping list to fill a big hole in his squad at Rush Green.
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook for 24/7 updates on the Hammers plus more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.