West Ham United full-back Aaron Cresswell has scored two goals in his last two matches.
Cresswell has scored twice in his last two West Ham appearances, and the first of his two strikes was a free-kick against Manchester United.
The left-back curled home West Ham’s second goal in their 2-0 victory over the Red Devils.
And Cresswell has admitted that he has always wanted West Ham’s free-kick taker.
The problem for Cresswell is that he has often faced fierce competition to take the free-kicks for West Ham.
Just a season after Cresswell arrived at West Ham, Dimitri Payet joined, and he knocked Cresswell out of the running to take set pieces.
“I’ve always fancied by myself from a dead-ball situation,” Cresswell said.
“Even back at Tranmere, 12 or so years ago, and then Ipswich, I scored a few, and I’ve scored a couple for West Ham.
“Of course, though, we had a couple of years when Dimi was here and I didn’t get a look in, and rightly so! To be fair to him, he’d stay out after training and practice them every day and his standard was on another level. He scored a record number of Premier League free-kicks in a season, or something like that.
“Getting back to me, though, I have practised the skill since a young age and I always fancy myself to hit the target. If another one comes along on Saturday, hopefully I’ll take it again!”
Cresswell may just have made himself first choice at West Ham when standing over attacking free-kicks now.
However, there are still question marks over his place in the team.
Arthur Masuaku was West Ham’s first choice left-back before his suspension, and it remains to be seen whether Manuel Pellegrini will pick the Frenchman again or stand by Cresswell in his side’s next match.
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