David Moyes thinks Said Benrahma is probably frustrated at West Ham right now

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West Ham United boss David Moyes has told Football.London that Said Benrahma needs to retain the ball more efficiently to play more regularly.

The Hammers pursued Benrahma over the summer, and finally secured a deal in October as they took the Algerian on loan with an obligation for a £25million move.

Fans were understandably excited, as Benrahma had been a star in the Championship with 17 goals and nine assists last season.

However, the Algerian’s start to life in the Premier League has been a little slow. He has started just two league games and made an additional five substitute appearances.

Benrahma played just 24 minutes of the 3-0 defeat at West Ham and didn’t feature at all against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, leaving some to worry about his role.

Ahead of today’s game with Southampton, boss Moyes has suggested that he does like Benrahma, but feels he needs to be better at retaining possession and making the right decision in the final third.

Moyes noted that Benrahma may need time to settle in the Premier League having jumped up from the Championship, so West Ham are taking a patient approach with him.

Additionally, Moyes thinks Benrahma is probably frustrated at West Ham right now, but he needs to wait like any other player currently not in the side.

“Retention of the ball would be one of them, I would say,” said Moyes. “We like him, he has ability, but retention of the ball and making the right decisions more often than not, that’s what we are after.”

“This is a step up for him, this is why if we are going to be pushing him, and I said right at the start, and I said this with Jarrod [Bowen] and Tomas [Soucek], I just know the boys from the Championship can come in and hit the ground right away, others need time to settle.

“Said, we are building him up and making sure he realises the importance of making the correct pass, keeping the ball when it’s not on because getting the ball back off Premier League teams is not easy. I’m sure he is [frustrated] but he’s also come into a side that in the main has been playing very well so from that point of view he will need to wait like everybody else. There are other players waiting to get in the team as well,” he added.