West Ham should experiment with Sam Byram this pre-season, taking into account comments from his former Leeds boss.
It’s fair to say West Ham have had bad luck with wingers over the past 12 months.
Firstly there was the disastrous loan of Gokhan Tore, before Dimitri Payet threw a sulk and forced through a move to Marseille.
Robert Snodgrass was bought as his replacement, and it was always going to be tough for the Scottish international. Now it appears manager Slaven Bilic is so unimpressed he is ready to sell up this summer, The Mirror report.
West Ham United’s Sam Byram in action with Liverpool’s James Milner
So in this transitional time of pre-season, now is the moment for the Hammers to experiment, and look to see if Sam Byram can provide a solution.
The right-back was bought in January 2016, after a spell at Leeds United when he won the Championship Player of the Month award before he moved.
In this period he was playing as a winger, with Gaetano Berardi taking his spot at full-back.
Former Leeds defender Sam Byram (R) in action with Charlton’s Cedric Evina
Byram’s brace against Wolves was the highlight, and it was no fluke with former boss Neil Redfearn earlier comparing him to Gareth Bale after moving him into the position in 2015.
Redfearn told BBC Radio Leeds: “There’s more to Sam. Playing in front of Berardi he gives us a different dimension. He’s got great pace, he’s athletic, he goes past people.
“I think it’s opened his eyes today as to what he’s capable of. I mentioned to him, look at Gareth Bale, he started at left-back, now he’s a left winger.
“There’s no reason why he can’t go on and play in a different position and be more effective further forward and I think he did that today.”
Before going out and splashing millions on a winger, given their indifferent track record in the transfer market, West Ham should take a closer look at what they have in Byram, and see if he can provide a solution.
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