West Ham academy product Ollie Scarles has been on the receiving end of some criticism in recent weeks.

I believe some of the criticism the 20-year-old central midfielder, turned full-back has faced since Diouf and AWB went to AFCON has been warranted.

When our two ‘starters’ at full-back left to play for their countries at the African Cup of Nations, Hammers fans were worried about the alternatives.

Not so much one of them, we know Kyle Walker/Peters would play on one side, either left or right, we weren’t 100% sure which one, but we just didn’t know who would play the other.

It turns out Nuno played it safe and played KWP on the right, so we assumed Scarles would play int he left, and that he did.

In some games he’s been good, in some games he’s been poor, but for the most part, I think he’s been pretty solid. He doesn’t have anywhere near the attacking output of Diouf and he can slow down attacks in possession at times.b

However, apart from that failed clearance against Fulham which led to their late Raul Jimenez goal, I think he’s actually been pretty great defensively. He’s definitely a better one on one defender than Diouf, but he doesn’t have the same recovery pace.

I don’t think Diouf will come straight back into the side after he’s played in the final of AFCON this evening, I can see Scarles keeping his spot against Sunderland.

The young Englishman is more than fine to play from the start with the right people around him, with Todibo next to him playing like he is, Mavropanos in form and an experienced full-back the other side, Scarles fits in well.

However, when he’s got Max Kilman next to him, you can’t help but look bad, the last thing you want as a youngster is to be playing alongside someone who seems less experienced than you.

When Kilman or other youngsters are playing around him, he does struggle more, so let’s hope everyone can stay fit in the backline so we always have options, including Ollie Scarles.