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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking to Football Insider, former Tottenham striker Darren Bent has given his thoughts on what he expects West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini to do ahead of the game against Watford.
The Chilean manager has Felipe Anderson, Mark Noble and Sebastien Haller all back available to him after the three of them were missing through injury, and you would presume that the former Manchester City boss would have at least one of them in his plans for the game against the Hornets.
As a result, Bent has revealed who he expects to be sacrificed from last week’s starting eleven.
What did he say?
When asked who could drop out for the Brazilian, Bent said: “If he’s (Anderson) fully fit, he’s got to play.
“For me, when he’s on form, Lanzini is the best player in their squad, I’m saying Lanzini regardless. Not Snodgrass, I’d say Pablo Fornals.”
The likeliest scenario
As we recently detailed, the £24m summer signing from Villarreal wasn’t very good against the Seagulls last time out despite a bright start to the game.
Find out which Premier League stadium has been ranked the worst in the video below…
The 23-year-old Spaniard failed to have a single shot on target and didn’t make a key pass either, which isn’t very impressive for an attacking midfielder whose main job is to create chances and test the keeper.
He may well come good soon as he is still acclimatising to the Premier League, but if such a key figure in Anderson is available and ready to play a game that the Hammers should really view as winnable given Watford’s poor start – the Hornets have lost both of their games – then the former Lazio man has to replace Fornals.
With the above in mind, the likeliest scenario will be the one that Bent also expects to happen – Fornals out, Anderson in.
Bent is also right to expect Robert Snodgrass to keep his spot too, as the Scot had a shot on target, completed four dribbles and was fouled three times in an all-action performance against Brighton.
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