While Paul Pogba’s struggles at Manchester United continue, an unknown player bearing a striking rssemblance has offered West Ham United fans new hope.
West Ham United’s Adrian, Dimitri Payet and team mates look dejected
Hammers supporters have not had much to cheer about so far this season but their lowest profile summer capture has offered light at the end of the tunnel.
A terrible start to the season, infighting amongst fans, resentment towards owners and concerns over safety have soured West Ham’s season so far.
Slaven Bilic‘s side have lost four of their opening five Premier League matches and scraped past Bournemouth in their solitary victory.
The Hammers were also embarrassingly dumped out of the Europa League by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu for the second season running.
Matters haven’t been helped by back-to-back 4-2 defeats in the Premier League against Watford and West Bromwich Albion.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho
The mini-crisis has been mirrored up at Old Trafford where Jose Mourinho’s side went into this week’s League Cup third round tie against Northampton off the back of three straight defeats.
While Wayne Rooney has been doing his best to take the heat off £89 million teammate Paul Pogba ineffectual return to the Red Devils, the Frenchman’s role within a team has been debated.
But it is Edimilson Fernandes – the Brazilian sounding Swiss youngster who bears some striking similarities to Pogba – that could be set to make all the difference for West Ham after a hugely impressive debut.
Like Manchester United, the Hammers got back to winnings ways in the League Cup, toiling against but eventually beating League Two side Accrington Stanley 1-0 thanks to a 96th minute Dimitri Payet free-kick.
And Fernandes, a £5 million capture from Swiss side Sion, starred on his debut with a debut showing off his rangy, skillful box-to-box style.
West Ham United’s new signing Edimilson Fernandes impressed on his debut
The tall and imposing 20-year-old has a Brazilian sounding name and the skills to match but is actually Swiss and the cousin of former Manchester City player Gelson Fernandes.
Before the game against Stanley, all West Ham fans had to go on was YouTube video showcasing his skills.
But they got to see just why he is so highly rated, albeit against inferior opposition as he marauded around the London Stadium putting tackles in, making bursting runs, playing a range of passes and showing lots of energy, strength and pace.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
Some of the youngster’s passes went awry but his overall performance has given fans real hope in what has been a gloomy start to life at their new home.
It has also put pressure on Slaven Bilic to play him ahead of the more established stars such as Cheikhou Kouyate and Mark Noble who have been woefully out of form so far this season.
Hammers fans will hope it is the start of a meteoric rise.
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