Hammers supporters have been clamouring for the club to sign a new right-back this month.
West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has moved to alleviate concerns over the lack of a new right-back arriving this month by reminding supporters of Sam Byram’s talents, writing for the club’s official website.
The Hammers have been playing Michail Antonio as a right wing-back once again this season, with summer signing Alvaro Arbeloa failing to impress.
With Antonio’s primary talents clearly lying in attack – as shown by his hat-trick of assists in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace – many supporters have been urging the club to sign a new right-sided defender in January.
Though the Hammers completed the signing of centre-back Jose Fonte on Friday, a right-back does not appear forthcoming.
Gold has now taken to the club’s official website to remind Hammers fans that Sam Byram has only just returned from an extended injury absence.
Gold wrote on the club’s official website: “People also ask me about a new right-back but we cannot forget that we have a talented full-back in Sam Byram who has just returned to first-team action following a lengthy injury, and he looked very impressive in the second half last weekend.”
Byram has endured a frustrating spell so far at West Ham since joining the club from Leeds United 12 months ago.
Injury and Slaven Bilic’s preference for playing Antonio at the back have limited him to just 14 appearances in all competitions, of which only five have been Premier League starts.
However, it appears as though Gold is a fan of Byram, and it would perhaps not be too much of surprise to see the 23-year-old begin to hold down a spot on a more regular basis over the next few months.
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