According to West Ham United’s official website, Irons boss Slaven Bilic confirmed that Toni Martinez is unlikely to be named in the squad against Brighton and Hove Albion on Friday night in his pre-match press conference, despite the fact that the Croatian could be missing three of his first-team strikers for the visit of the Seagulls.
While Andy Carroll misses out through suspension after being dismissed in the 1-1 draw against Burnley last weekend, Bilic also stated that Diafra Sakho will be absent because of a back problem, while Javier Hernandez could also be a doubt having had a scan on his hamstring this week after it felt tight in training.
The potential absence of the trio would certainly leave the east London outfit looking light up top, but despite that fact the manager seems unwilling to include the 20-year-old Martinez in his matchday squad.
The 49-year-old said: “Martinez is showing good form. He’s been with us a couple of times, in pre-season, and is improving a lot, but we have enough options so he will probably not be in the squad.”
Here are three reasons Bilic is wrong to leave Spaniard on the sidelines against Brighton…
Martinez is a goalscorer
While Bilic still has the likes of Michail Antonio, Marko Arnautovic and Andre Ayew available if Hernandez fails to make the clash against the Seagulls, you would think that he would like to at least have a goalscorer on the substitutes’ bench – that is exactly what Martinez is.
The 20-year-old made a big impression during pre-season and has scored 23 goals in 26 appearances for the U23s.
He clearly knows where the net is and the Croatian boss could regret not including him in the squad if his team struggle to break the Brighton defence down.
He deserves a chance
With three strikers potentially missing against Brighton, you would think this would be the ideal opportunity for Bilic to give a promising young attacker a chance to impress and build up his experience by being included in a Premier League squad.
The fact that the fixture is at home to a newly-promoted club – with no disrespect to the Seagulls – is surely even more of a reason for the 20-year-old not to be left on the sidelines, and the youngster would certainly have that extra bit of support from the London Stadium faithful.
Must-win game
Having said that West Ham “have to win” against Brighton in his pre-match press conference, Irons boss Slaven Bilic should have the options in his squad to be able to change the game should it not be going his side’s way.
Having failed to find a way past a resolute Swansea City defence until injury-time in their previous Premier League game at the London Stadium, the Croatian should have attacking players that can make a difference on the substitutes’ bench against the Seagulls, and if Hernandez misses out and Arnautovic, Ayew and Antonio all start then that certainly wouldn’t be the case.
Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.
