Former West Ham United hero Trevor Sinclair has likened one of the club’s summer signings to Manchester United and Real Madrid hero David Beckham.
Trevor Sinclair in his West Ham days
In a career spanning five years at Upton Park, Tricky Trev – as he affectionately became known on the terraces – scored 35 goals in 177 appearances, the most he made at any one club throughout his career.
So it was no surprise when BT Sport employed the former England winger as a pundit for the Hammers’ Europa League qualifier against Slovenian side NK Domzale on Thursday night.
West Ham’s Sofiane Feghouli in action
Feghouli a plus
Slaven Bilic’s side turned in a disappointing performance to lose 2-1 against the minnows.
But Sinclair was impressed with one player in particular, new signing Sofiane Feghouli.
The former Valencia winger was one of few West Ham players to emerge from the game with any credit.
David Beckham bends in a trademark cross in his heyday
‘He bends it like Beckham’
And Sinclair said he reminded him of his former England teammate.
“I really like him (Feghouli),” Sinclair said on BT Sport.
“The way he shapes the ball when he crosses it, he is like David Beckham the way he bends it into the danger area.”
Sinclair played alongside Beckham for England so knows all about his ability first hand.
Feghouli has spent the last six years with Valencia scoring 20 goals in 144 games and certainly looks an upgrade on Victor Moses, who has returned to Chelsea after his loan expired.
Things didn’t start too well for him at Valencia and he was jeered by fans after some glaring misses in front of goal.
He soon won them over though with his dazzling skills and exciting attacking play.
Andy Carroll will hope to benefit from Feghouli’s crossing this season
Hammers will hope Sinclair is right
The 26-year-old qualified to play for France or Algeria internationally – much like France legend Zinedine Zidane – and featured for France at youth level before eventually deciding to play for Algeria.
Feghouli has nine goals in 35 games for his country and was one of the stars for Algeria during their fantastic World Cup exploits in Brazil.
He was voted the Best African Player in La Liga in 2014-2015 and won the Algerian Footballer of the Year award in 2012.
If he can achieve even half what Beckham did in the Premier League Hammers fans will be delighted.
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