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Yarmolenko out, Diangana in? West Ham Injury forces youngsters ascension

By Adam Smith

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur is challenged by Grady Diangana of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur is challenged by Grady Diangana of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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It didn’t look good at the time and now it has been confirmed. Andriy Yarmolenko will miss up to 6 months with an achilles injury following a non-contact injury in West Ham’s 1-0 loss to Spurs. The injury opens to door for discussion on a replacement, but Pellegrini may have already decided his starter.

Everyone except the powers that be at West Ham have announced a serious injury for summer transfer and starter Andriy Yarmolenko after he was carted off against Spurs. He suffered an ankle injury that was non-contact, dropping him to the ground and forcing his exit from the match. It didn’t look good, and that visual prognosis was later confirmed.

Six months, it seems, West Ham will be without Yarmolenko as he has ruptured his achilles tendon on the back of his ankle. The injury sees West Ham reduced to three players who can possibly start in his absence, but none of which offer the same skill as he does.

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With Michail Antonio seemingly done at West Ham, and Snodgrass having value as a central or left-sided attacker, it may just be 20-year-old Grady Diangana’s time to shine for the Hammers.

He’ll likely have to share his minutes with Robert Snodgrass who, as mentioned above does boast versatility across the midfield, but is strongest on the right side. Snodgrass, while an elite creator, does have age working against him which can create an opportunity for Diangana initially as a late-game substitute.

It is Diangana’s youth that makes him an interesting option off the bench, at least right now. While he has higher aspirations as a starter, Diangana knows he’ll have to earn his time in West Ham’s starting XI through patience, hard work, and bench duty.

What promises to be a fruitful opportunity for him is the upcoming Cup match against Tottenham. Snodgrass will factor into the starting line up in one way or another against Leicester City this upcoming Premier League match week which should keep Diangana on the bench. However, with Tottenham mired in a thick set of fixtures, West Ham have the opportunity to expose their tired and most likely non-optimal lineup with Diangana’s youth and speed.

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Lucas Perez and Michail Antonio are two other options at right wing, but both have failed to do much in their time on the pitch at the Premier League level for West Ham this season. The spot is Diangana’s to lose at this point and his selection off the bench over other senior players suggests Pellegrini believes this too.