Rehanne Skinner makes ‘phenomenal’ Riko Ueki admission ahead of West Ham Women v Leicester City
Rehanne Skinner has made a “phenomenal” Riko Ueki admission ahead of West Ham United’s clash with Leicester City.
The Hammers face the Foxes in East London on Sunday (10 November) as they look to pick up their first win in the WSL this season having been beaten by Tottenham last time out.
Although the Irons have come in for some criticism so far this term, Skinner has been quick to heap praise on Ueki suggesting the Japanese forward is one of the best back-to-goal attackers in the division.
As quoted by the Irons’ website on Friday (8 November) she said: “If you are a football-minded person, you absolutely do not miss Riko Ueki because the things she does for 100 minutes: her timing of movement, her ability to manipulate defenders to get the ball where she wants to get it is phenomenal.
“She’s a top player and, unfortunately, not enough people acknowledge that. But we know the value she brings us.
“I think my biggest challenge has been to make sure everybody on the pitch knows what she’s doing, that’s something we’ve been working really hard on. In terms of her hold-up play and her link-up play, coming off the front line, she’s got to be right up there in the league, across the board.”
What has happened to Rehanne Skinner and West Ham women?
Ueki impressed in her first season with the Hammers and while the team have got off to a disappointing start this term, she has picked up where she left off with some incredibly impressive displays at the top end of the pitch.
But with another relegation battle on the cards this term, the 25-year-old is going to need some support from the rest of her teammates and they need to find a way to get the best out of her week in and week out.
A win over Leicester on Sunday would not only move the Irons away from the relegation zone but also drag the Foxes right into the battle at the bottom end of the table which can only be a good thing for West Ham.
Leicester have only managed to win one of their opening six league games and are part of a big clump of teams that have struggled in the opening few months of the campaign.
Hopefully, Skinner’s side will manage to finally pick up that all-important first win on Sunday.
In other West Ham news, the Irons will be on red alert after a new Ademola Lookman transfer update emerged this season
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