West Ham star Manuel Lanzini is showing what he is capable of.
Manuel Lanzini is showing this season at West Ham that time was all he needed.
It is 15 months since Lanzini’s career dream of starring at the World Cup was shattered.
Lanzini was days away from starting in Argentina’s 2018 tournament opener against Iceland, before he suffered a serious knee injury.
This put him out for most of last season, before he returned to action for West Ham in February.
When he did return, something wasn’t right, and fans begun to get a bit impatient.
They knew Lanzini was capable of more, much more, but after a few games it still wasn’t clicking.
Now after getting those games out of the way, and benefitting from pre-season, Lanzini is getting back to his best.
He has played a key role in West Ham’s promising start to the season and how the Hammers have bounced back from the heavy opening day defeat to Manchester City.
Lanzini only has one assist so far, but he is unlucky this is not higher.
He is averaging 3.5 key passes per game. Only Kevin de Bruyne (4 per game) averages higher.
Lanzini also manages a pass completion rate of 88 per cent.
Creating so many chances, while retaining the ball so well, shows superb decision making from the Argentine.
If he keeps this up, West Ham’s attack will continue to flourish, and star striker Sebastien Haller could be prolific.
This could be Lanzini’s best season yet, although West Ham will have to manage him sensibly with regards to his recent knee injury.
He was denied the opportunity to show he was among the world’s best at he 2018 World Cup, but he can still demonstrate this by continuing to shine in the Premier League and outperforming other ‘big name’ players.
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