OPINION
It is safe to say that not much has been made of West Ham United’s strike force recently – and it is no wonder why after their torrid start to the Premier League season.
Javier Hernandez has been out of sorts, Marko Arnautovic has been left isolated up front and new summer signing Lucas Perez was underwhelming in their Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.
This forward predicament has undoubtedly left the majority of Hammers’ supporters rather worried, which has only been reinforced by the fact that Andy Carroll is out with an injury.
The 29-year-old is expected to return to action later this year, but this could well spell the end for Mexican international Hernandez.
Hernandez – who arrived in 2017 from Bayer Leverkusen – has not been at his best, and soon enough, he is going to be dropped by boss Manuel Pellegrini in favour of someone else.
That someone else may be Carroll, who has the realistic possibility of usurping Hernandez if he goes on to create the sort of impact that fans will be hoping for.
Yes, he is not known as the most prolific of strikers, but he definitely has the capability to make a case for the first team once again if they are still struggling for goals upon his return.
His towering presence has always been a threat in the penalty area, and his strength allows him to beat opponents’ defenders with ease.
This is exactly the type of forward that West Ham needs – a striker who can bully defences and get the goals that his team so desperately needs.
Unfortunately, Hernandez is not able to offer this type of service, so it would not be surprising to see him move away come January.
Carroll – who stands at 6’4″ [Transfermarkt] – may be able to thrive in his potential absence, which may give him the confidence he needs to start scoring on regular basis once again.
Hernandez looks to be history if Carroll makes the desired impact, and this can only be music to his ears.
