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Nuno explains Adama Traore decision ahead of West Ham's game with Liverpool

Nuno Espirito Santo did not feel the need to bring Adama Traore on during West Ham’s game against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Indeed, West Ham drew 0-0 with Bournemouth last time out, a result that kept them in the bottom three in the Premier League table.

Nuno only brought two players off the bench during the game, none of whom were January signing Traore.

Let’s hear it then – what have you made of Adama Traore so far? 🤔

Not much game time but have you seen anything that’s impressed you?

A graphic asking West Ham fans to grade Adama Traore's performance so far.

Credit: Getty Images/Rob Newell – CameraSport

When asked about that decision during his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game with Liverpool, however, Nuno simply said he didn’t feel the need to make many changes.

Asked directly about Traore, he said: “Always the same. We look at the game, we see and we think what the team needs. We decided not to make too many subs because the team was doing well.

“But the subs are here for us to use at the right moment. We have options, it all requires on what the game demands.”

Adama Traore hasn’t done anything to impress Nuno yet

The January signing has only had a few cameo appearances in Premier League thus far, so it is perhaps unfair to judge.

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Still, West Ham fans have not been impressed by Traore’s impact thus far. He struggled to make much of an impact against Burton in the FA Cup, although one could argue that he’s not yet fully fit.

How impressed have you been?

And do you see a long-term future for him at the club?

A graphic asking West Ham fans to rate the impact Paco Jemez has made at the club.

Credit: Getty Images/Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto

The fact he was overlooked during a game in which West Ham were chasing a goal arguably says a lot about his standing, however.

Though Bournemouth could well have won that game too, the pressure was on West Ham. They need points more desperately yet an attacking player like Traore was still snubbed.

Adama Traore during West Ham's Premier League game against Chelsea.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Adama Traore’s statistics for West Ham United so far

Traore hasn’t played well for West Ham yet, which will have done little to appease the supporters who were underwhelmed by his signing in the first place.

While any new signing does deserve time to settle in at a new club, the situation here in east London is so pressing that West Ham do not have the luxury of time.

Traore has made four appearances for West Ham for a combined total of 93 minutes. He has registered neither a goal nor an assist during that time.

In his defence, he’s not going to get a chance to improve on that record if Nuno keeps leaving him on the bench.

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