Written by : @daena_bodie
It seems as if Lanzini’s long awaited return is set to be rather short lived. The little Argentinian is now rumored to be out of action for three to four weeks with a bruised foot. Having played in the Hammers’ last outing against Aston Villa, which proved to be a rather unconvincing 0-0, Lanzini is now sidelined until mid-October.
Based on his form prior to Villa, some would say that the Jewel did look a little off his game against Dean Smith’s men. Since that match, it has become public knowledge that during the trip to Villa Park Lanzini was trying to play through the pain barrier, which means his quiet performance starts to make a bit more sense.
Despite losing Lanzini for the next few weeks, it is the perfect opportunity for another Hammer to step up to the plate, Pablo Fornals. The exciting Spanish prospect is now being given the opportunity to endear himself to the West Ham faithful, but at just 23 years old, he has a big challenge ahead of him.
Having been handed just his second Premier League start in Lanzini’s absence, it’s fair to say that Fornals did alright. There’s a big jump in physicality and intensity in the English top-flight, compared to La Liga and it took Fornals some time to settle into the match. The Spaniard has been playing in fits and spurts so far this season with Pellegrini being extremely cautious in his period of acclimation, but after Sunday’s performance it is becoming clear that he is also growing into his new surroundings.
The one thing the Hammers have in Fornals is a young player who is keen to impress and work hard to prove himself, something that showed on Sunday. Although Fornals didn’t shine, after the game found a bit of a rhythm, so did he. The most noticeable thing for Hammers fans is that Fornals seems happier passing the ball than driving at defenses, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just isn’t Lanzini-esque.
His willingness to pass instead of running at defenders may be a product of the Premier League’s physicality, but there is no doubt Fornals is a tireless runner and isn’t shy of putting a shift in.
Despite his lack of game time, Fornals is in high spirits about his time at West Ham. As he becomes more comfortable in the Premier League, West Ham may have a truly valuable asset in their ranks. A player who works hard in a Snodgrass mold, can see a pass like Felipe Anderson, and will hopefully become more confident running at defenses over time.
It is extremely early days for Fornals in this West Ham team, but all signs point to another great find from Pellegrini and Husillos. One that already has the quality needed, with age on his side and the willingness to develop his game and become a more potent threat. Most fans will be eagerly watching over the next few weeks hoping that Fornals will show more of what he can bring to this side after a relatively quiet game against United.
