The midfielder has been utilised on the right side of defence in the past two games.
West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has admitted – to the club’s official website, no less- that he is not happy being played out of position at right-back in recent weeks.
The Senegalese star has found himself being utilised on the right-hand side of defence in the Hammers’ last two games against Watford and Chelsea.
Manager Slaven Bilic has previous in terms of playing stars out of position after his long-running experiment with using winger Michail Antonio at right-back.
The Irons are light on quality in that position, but Kouyate, while stressing that he sees Bilic asking him to play there as a compliment, admitted that it is far from his favourite position.
Kouyate told the club’s website: “I am very happy that I have become an important player for the team and that is all down to the hard work I have put in every day. Everything I do here is for the team. For me, I am happy with the progress I’ve been making.
“The most important thing here is West Ham United and not Cheikhou Kouyate and everything I am doing is for the team to go as far as it can.
“I don’t like playing there [at right-back], to be honest. It’s not my position and it doesn’t suit my game, but I play for the team. The fact the coach has asked me to do so is a compliment, of course, but it isn’t my preference.”
Bilic has proven stubborn in the past, and Kouyate’s revelation may have some sections of the West Ham support concerned that the 27-year-old risks becoming frustrated.
West Ham travel to Bournemouth on Saturday, where Kouyate will hope to feature from the start again – albeit in midfield, if he can help it.
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