Nuno Espirito Santo appears unconvinced by his attacking options.placeholder image
Nuno Espirito Santo appears unconvinced by his attacking options. | AFP via Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo turned to young Callum Marshall off the bench against Arsenal last time out in a head-turning decision.
West Ham have been hit with an onslaught of struggles so far this season and one of those is a lack of potency in front of goal. Only Wolves and Burnley have netted fewer goals than the Hammers’ six so far this term.
The club’s last marquee striker signing came last summer, with £27 million splurged on Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund. The German bagged 12 goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances over the 2022/23 season and there was the hope he could transition seamlessly to the Premier League.
That didn’t happen with the 32-year-old plagued by injury problems. Fullkrug has managed just three goals in his 27 West Ham appearances to date in a disappointing return.
Troy Deeney on ‘sad’ situation with West Ham star
Graham Potter turned to Evan Ferguson on loan in January but the Brighton loanee didn’t score a single goal. The club then brought in Callum Wilson from Newcastle United on a free transfer this summer, hoping his 89 career Premier League goals would add firepower, but his minutes were limited under Potter. Now, under Nuno, he’s not featured once.
Against Arsenal, with his side 1-0 down and looking to get back into the game, turning to the experienced Wilson seemed an obvious option for the new manager. However, in a head-turning decision, he opted for 20-year-old Callum Marshall.
Speaking about the club’s wider transfer strategy on talkSPORT, former Premier League striker Troy Deeney shared his pity for the former Magpies man. He said: “I love Callum but it's sad watching him play at times, his body has betrayed him.”
Nuno hints at Callum Marshall start v Brentford
On the club’s dealings, Deeney added: “The West Ham way, every time I meet someone, they can’t tell me what it is. What is the expectation?
“What are you actually building? You can have one or two but not four. I look around that team and go, where’s the kick on? You go back a few years, they got rid of Craig Dawson - who did well for them - and brought in Max Kilman for a lot of money. Is that a massive improvement? Does he take you over the line?”
It now appears that Wilson could be snubbed once again when Brentford visit on Monday evening, despite an injury to Fullkrug. Nuno has teased that Marshall could be given the starting berth and when asked about the competition for places, he said: “It is a healthy fight for the position. They're different players, but it's a good situation.”
Compared to Wilson’s 244 Premier League appearances, Marshall has just one to his name, coming in those 29 minutes against Arsenal. With the club in crisis, to opt for the youngster would be a bold choice for Nuno to make.
In other news, Nuno Espirito Santo could demand West Ham sell big investment in January.
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