Is he fast becoming a key player for West Ham?

After a month of joy, fortunes gone straight back into hiding and we seem to be back to business as usual at West Ham. Saturday afternoon saw the Hammers put in a half-hearted effort against former Champions Manchester United, and come off the pitch with a disappointing result that they hardly seemed to challenge.

It’s hard to focus on (or even find) any positives from that abysmal afternoon at Upton Park, but there is something to be said about the sole bright light on that dark afternoon— that the performances from Stewart Downing are getting better and better, even if they aren’t quite leading to results all the time.

Downing seemed to be the only mover and shaker for the Hammers and was the only player regularly getting the ball down the pitch. Yes, there was a slight dip in his contribution to the game during his switching from side to side, but the lad put in a good effort overall.

Downing’s arrival at West Ham was marred by concerns that we had signed yet-another winger who’d be surplus to requirements instead of the striker we so desperately desired. Given that he’s become the first winger on the team sheet and is managing to perform well despite adverse team performances, has he now won over fans and become a key player in West Ham’s continued quest for safety?

Of course it can be argued that his performance on Saturday was made to look better by the weak performances of those around him, but on a dismal day Downing was lively on the wing and instrumental in moving the ball down the pitch—and I was certainly glad to have him out there, even if the result was thoroughly frustrating.

What do you think of Downing – has he proved to be a valuable contribution to the squad? Has he justified his starting position over our plethora of wingers? Let us know below, or tweet us @Forever_WestHam