West Ham defender Pablo Zabaleta believes want away striker Diafra Sakho can have a huge impact for the club this season despite not being a regular starter for Slaven Bilic’s side.
Sakho has been a bit part player this season following his deadline day attempts to leave the club when he traveled to French side Renne for a medical without the club’s permission, but still remains the club’s top scorer with three goals.
The Senegal striker scored the winner in the Hammers’ most recent Premier League bout against Swansea, prodding home an injury time goal, and Zabaleta has backed Sakho to keep doing the same.
“Diafra can have a big impact for us because he’s a great player, but it is all about confidence,” said Zabaleta of Sakho on whufc.com.
“He’s not been playing much in the Premier League aside from coming on for a few minutes, and his only starts have been in the Carabao Cup.
“This is what you expect from players like this who, even if they are not starting the games, they come on and give 100 per cent, even if it is only for ten minutes. He did that against Swansea, so I’m very pleased for him.”
Sakho’s form has led for calls for him to in Slaven Bilic’s starting line-up in coming weeks in place of struggling duo Andy Carroll and Javier Hernandez.
Zabaleta believes that target is more than realistic for the No15, and has urged him to keep working hard to earn his shot.
“He has done a fantastic job for this Club, so he needs to fight for a place, show the manager he is worthy of a place in the team and that’s it.” he said.
“The best way to do it was like he did against Swansea, coming on, making runs, working hard and scoring goals. That is the only way to show the manager you are worth a place in the team and that healthy competition between everyone has to be like this.”
