How the Payet situation masked West Ham player’s awful form…until now

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West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell has struggled for form since his return from injury.

The Hammers were appalling yesterday, during their 4-0 home defeat to Manchester City, and in what is becoming a recurring theme, Aaron Cresswell once again looked a long way off the pace.

The 27-year-old missed the first two months of West Ham’s Premier League season, after sustaining a serious injury during the early stages of their doomed Europa League campaign in July.

This was Karren Brady’s message for Marseille regarding Payet two weeks ago

He returned to Slaven Bilic’s line-up in October, but has failed to regain the kind of form which saw him championed for an England call-up by Hammers fans.

Ironically, he actually received his first cap for the Three Lions in November, when he was playing nowhere near his best.

West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell in action

And the last few games have seen Cresswell’s usually high standards drop further still, but luckily for him, his performances seem to have been overshadowed by the Dimitri Payet saga which was rumbling on in the background.

All of the West Ham fans’ anger was directed at the Frenchman, rather than the 27-year-old’s worrying demise.

That was up until last night, however, where the left-back’s woeful display was plain to see in all its’ glory, or lack thereof.

He was left wanting when his reckless sideways pass was easily intercepted, and he and his teammates were ultimately punished when City went on to score as a direct result of his dreadful error.

West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell and teammates look dejected

It seemed as though Payet’s actions were so heavily focused on, that Cresswell’s poor showings for the Hammers were being bypassed, and considered as little more than an afterthought.

Now, maybe this is overcritical, considering that the Liverpool-born defender has only been back in the first team fold for three months, and sometimes it can take a while to regain the confidence needed to perform at the highest level.

Read Michail Antonio’s take on the Payet situation

But there must come a time where Cresswell starts to deliver again, otherwise it may well be in Bilic’s best interest to take him out of the firing line, for a few weeks at least.