WHZ View: Issa Diop must prove West Ham credentials in big Ollie McBurnie test v Sheff Utd
West Ham will be without Angelo Ogbonna v Sheffield United on Monday and that could spell trouble against the big bruising presence of Oliver McBurnie.
Ogbonna has been an ever-present in the Premier League for the Irons this season but he will be absent for the visit of the basement boys after picking up an injury in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
Sheffield United might be bottom of the division but with six wins out of their last nine games in all competitions, they head to London in confident mood and could have an ace up their sleeves.
They have a wealth of strikers to choose from but with the Irons losing Ogbonna they could well turn to McBurnie to provide some height and heading ability.
According to Wyscout McBurnie has been involved in more aeriel duels per 90 (17.56) than any other Premier League player this season, winning 47.1% of them.
Indeed only one player has been involved in more overall aerial duels than the Scotland striker – our very own Tomas Soucek, but he has played more than double the minutes of McBurnie.
So how do the Irons combat his physical presence?
Well one way would be to stop the threat at source and that means limiting the volume of balls that are launched into his zone.
Pressing from the front and not allowing Sheffield United any time on the ball to size up long balls to McBurnie would be a good idea and one this means one Irons ace will have to buck his ideas up.
No player in the Premier League this season allows more progressive passes per 90 than Jarrod Bowen (11.64).
Pablo Fornals also ranks in the top ten (seventh) for this metric with 9.91 allowed so the Irons forwards must work harder to intercept passes at the front.
Of course if the ball does find its way to in and around the West Ham box then the defence must stand up strong to contain McBurnie’s presence.
Despite being withdrawn against Manchester United on Tuesday through concussion fears Issa Diop is expected to line up at the London Stadium and cover for Ogbonna alongside Craig Dawson.
With Dawson in imperious form it is likely Chris Wilder will be instructing his side to focus on his defensive partner who has not started a Premier League game since December 16.
Diop has only played seven games in all competitions this season as he has found himself fourth choice behind Ogbonna, Dawson and Fabian Balbuena.
One area that he has been particularly vulnerable in this season is in the air.
The French defender has only won four aerial duels this season to give him a lowly success rate of 30.8% and he will be in for a rude awakening against McBurnie and co on Monday evening.
David Moyes will be hoping Diop can step it up and combat the physical presence of McBurnie but he might need his team to put up a wall of protection around him if he starts to suffer.
That means pressing from the front while Soucek and Dawson must pay close attention to McBurnie at all times to ensure Diop is not left exposed.
In other West Ham news, Chris Wilder pays glowing David Moyes compliment.