Hear me out. Of course West Ham United don’t want their crown jewel to miss games – as one of our leading goal threats, Mohammed Kudus is a big miss. If, as looks likely, the FA will hit him with two, consecutive three match suspensions, then West Ham’s ‘Starboy’ will not return until the Wolves game on December 9th. Hammers’ hierarchy seem to believe we will know the outcome before the Forest game.
The Ghanaian will still be able to play for his national side, so no danger of getting stale – the next international break comes at a perfect time for him to rediscover his form in ‘dead-rubber’ games for his country with no stress: Ghana have all but failed to qualify for AFCON 25 so these games can let him relax and ‘express himself ( how I hate that expression).
His Hammers’ coach Julen Lopetegui will therefore be forced into playing Crysencio Summerville, last week’s man of the match against Manchester United – for an extended run of another five games in Kudus’ hated-but-tolerated role on the left.
Summerville gets the confidence he needs to step up and show what he’s capable of, which will help him nail down his own starting role at the club.
Summerville gets to start on the left side until December – unless Lopetegui is seriously daft
Five more games then, for Summerville to prove himself worthy of that left – sided role that Kudus hates anyway.
When Kudus is available again – Lopetegui can start him centrally in the role everyone bar J’Lo seems to be clear would suit Kudus and the club. Finally, through accident rather than design West Ham can have that dream front line of Antonio playing in front of Summerville, Kudus and Bowen. Which can only be good news.
