West Ham’s underappreciated enigma has a platform to flourish under Moyes – opinion

West Ham have been enduring a torrid time in the Premier League this season, having spent big in the summer transfer window, breaking their record transfer fee. But a few Hammers players have still managed to make the most of what has been a disappointing season so far. One of the leading attacking lights in their side this season has been 32-year-old, Robert Snodgrass.

So far this season only one player, Sebastien Haller, has scored more Premier League goals for the East London side than the Scot. He was rewarded by his fellow countryman and new manager David Moyes, with a place in the starting line-up for the manager’s first game since returning to the club. Though he was substituted, that 4-0 victory over A.F.C Bournemouth was the foundations of what Moyes wants to achieve, and for the rest of this season at least Snodgrass has to be part of his plans.

Few other West Ham players have had such a significant influence on proceedings in the final third as the Scottish international, he has also made the third-highest number of assists for the Hammers this season, behind only Felipe Anderson and Pablo Fornals. Even though the previously mentioned pair can boast a higher number of assists, Snodgrass exceeds the duo for the number of key passes he has played on average per 90 minutes. Further evidence the Scots is, in fact, West Ham’s most potent creative instruments comes from the fact that he has played the highest number of crosses of anyone for the Hammers this season, averaging 2.1 per match.

Combining goals and assists, only top scorer Haller has exerted a more significant influence on results than Snodgrass this season for West Ham. If Moyes is to repeat the success of his initial visit to the London Stadium, then it is paramount that the Scottish winger plays a starring role. Overlooking him for some of the side’s more glamorous options could be a costly mistake in the fight for Premier League survival.