West Ham United boss David Moyes has suggested that playmaker Manuel Lanzini has become a different player since his injuries.
West Ham beat Crystal Palace 3-2 on Saturday night with Lanzini playing a key role.
After Michail Antonio’s opener, Lanzini bagged a brace to give West Ham a 3-0 lead.
Lanzini’s goal was a stunner, flicking the ball past one defender before volleying into the net. His second wasn’t quite so stunning, converting a penalty.
Palace did come roaring back in the second half, but they couldn’t grab a late leveller.
West Ham are seeing Lanzini thrive right now, which some may not have seen coming.
Lanzini, 28, only started five Premier League games last season, recording only one goal and one assist.
Some may have thought that Lanzini was being phased out at West Ham, but he has now come back into Moyes’ plans.
After recent goals against Manchester City and Chelsea, Lanzini has shown that he is still a real threat – and this latest showing proves that again.
Lanzini has been through injury hell in the past and has seen West Ham bring in other players in the final third, but he is still making an impact.
Manager Moyes has now told Football.London that he thinks Lanzini is a ‘changed player’ having adapted his game after injuries.
Rather than being a number 10, Lanzini is maybe sitting a little deeper and dictating the game from further back, becoming more of a midfield player than an attacker.
“I think he’s a changed player because of the injury and he has had to adapt,” said Moyes. “He is closer to a midfield player now than a No.10, I know we had to play him higher up today but he’s had to adapt and change but I am pleased for him,” he added.
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