West Ham United have taken a big gamble on Axel Disasi and it’s bad news for Max Kilman.
On Saturday, Nuno Espirito Santo takes his side to Burnley in another huge game for West Ham United.
With Nottingham Forest having lost on Friday night, the Hammers have the chance to cut the gap to safety to just three points if they can find a way past Burnley at Turf Moor.
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In truth, it’s a game that West Ham will be expected to win. That in itself brings an awful lot of pressure.
It was telling, then, that Nuno rolled the dice on Disasi – which further indicates just how far Kilman is away from the first team fold right now.
Axel Disasi starts for West Ham against Burnley despite not playing in months
The Frenchman is only just through the door following his late loan move from Chelsea earlier this week.
Disasi will only have had the benefit of a few training sessions with his new teammates at Rush Green, while he hasn’t played a game at senior level since April.
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Still, Disasi is in West Ham’s confirmed starting lineup to play Burnley. Thrown in at the deep end, it’s a major reflection on Kilman’s standing.
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With Jean-Clair Todibo suspended, Kilman did look like the natural choice, given he has played much more regularly.
However, few would doubt that the former Wolves star has struggled to convince at the club and the fact he has been overlooked for a huge game says a lot about his current situation.
The West Ham United youngster who Axel Disasi has blocked
There is, of course, another defender who could have started the game in the form of young Ezra Mayers.
Mayers is one of West Ham’s most exciting young players and has impressed when called upon at senior level.
Axel Disasi during Manchester City FC v Aston Villa FC - Premier League
Photo by Marc Atkins – AVFC/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Quite whether or not a relegation six-pointer is the right time in which to deploy him is up for debate, but he was at least another option.
Indeed, Nuno certainly hasn’t been scared of trusting the youth options when he’s had to.
However, with Disasi now surely an instant starter for the next few months at least considering how quickly he’s come into the team, the wait for Mayers goes on.
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