Quite how the communication went between player and club at the end of the last international break, we may never know: Suffice to say West Ham were not best pleased that one of their stalwarts was not back in time to take part in the FA Cup quarter final against Leeds United.
Aaron Wan- Bissaka – Hammer of the Year last year – was ‘requested’ by Presidential decree to delay his return and join the DR Congo’s official open top bus tour to celebrate his nation’s qualification for the summer ’26 World Cup. The result was that he was several days late in returning.
As it was, in his absence, Nuno Espírito Santo called upon Wan Bissaka’s understudy at right back Kyle Walker Peters for both the cup game – and Friday’s Premier League game Wolves in which Walker Peters excelled.
Walker Peters – excelled in West Ham’s victory against bottom side Wolves
Walker Peters was roundly praised for performed adeptly, and in particular looked able to move the team further up the pitch with some intelligent passing and running.
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The former Southampton player, who joined on a free transfer in the summer received an “8.1′ rating from whoscored.com, whilst some West Ham fan sites claimed ‘ a new cult figure’ was born at West Ham.
That seems a little excessive for the diminutive right back but on his current form it will be Wan-Bissaka who sits out the remainder of the season if ‘KWP’ continues to impress. He does offer more going forward and yet looked solid in defence despite not having the telescopic Wan-Bissaka legs for those ‘go-go-gadget’ tackles.
Likely Wan-Bissaka may come to regret the unscheduled stop-over which the President of Congo insisted on for his triumphant team: It could well cost him his place for the remainder of this Premier League campaign if Walker-Peters maintains that high standard.