West Ham defender Issa Diop missed their weekend mauling.
It was a bit of a surprise that £22 million signing Issa Diop missed West Ham’s opening Premier League game at Anfield, but the centre-back appears to have had a lucky escape.
Fellow new boy Fabian Balbuena was not so lucky, with the Paraguayan given a crash course on life in the Premier League.
Fortunately every week will not be so tough as playing away to a rampant Liverpool, but Balbuena’s confidence won’t have been helped by the 4-0 defeat.
Diop on the other hand may have been left nervous watching on, but missing the mauling can only be a good thing for the defender.
West Ham invested a huge amount in Diop in the summer, and hope he can be a rock at the back for the club for years to come.
Balbuena is more of a low risk punt, signed for a fraction of the price, aimed at boosting squad depth, and at 26, he is more battle hardened than 21-year-old Diop.
Throwing Diop straight in at Anfield would hardly have been fair, but manager Manuel Pellegrini does have a big decision to make this weekend.
West Ham fans want to see the new signing get a chance, and a home fixture with Bournemouth is the type of game he should relish making his debut in.
Pellegrini just needs to do it without the decision being a negative reflection on Balbuena or Angelo Ogbonna, whoever is dropped to make way.
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