David Moyes told to pull Said Benrahma U-turn after what pundit saw at West Ham
Noel Whelan has suggested Said Benrahma has done enough to avoid being sold by West Ham after his performance against Nottingham Forest.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 27-year-old could be set for an extended spell in the starting line-up following his display.
Benrahma was the bright spark for West Ham in an otherwise dismal 1-0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest on Sunday (14 August) – hitting the bar with a free-kick and seeing a first-half strike disallowed.
As per WhoScored, the former Brentford man recorded three shots, four key passes, and five successful dribbles.
According to Fabrizio Romano (7 August), West Ham are open to selling Benrahma as the window comes to a close.
The Irons have reinforced the wide midfield area with the signing of Maxwel Cornet – while Michail Antonio could now feature on the wing after the signing of Gianluca Scamacca.
Whelan insisted Benrahma can be a “really important player” for West Ham despite Cornet’s signing.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury:
“Sometimes there can be disagreements off the field.
“You’re not always going to get everything you want as a football player, managers are going to make tough decisions.
“However, when you’re given an opportunity – you’ve got to show the manager why you’re worth keeping around. I think he did that – and I think Moyes will appreciate that.
“He was a breath of fresh air for them. Sometimes it’s not bad to have those honest discussions, but what you’ve got to do is back yourself up by performing on the pitch.
“He could be a really important player yet for West Ham and Moyes. I think he proved that the other day.
“It’s always down to the player. If he’s putting in performances, you can’t drop him. There’s no reason for Benrahma to be dropped for the next game.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire issues “indefensible” West Ham verdict as fans outraged.