OPINION
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted that he is facing a difficult situation at the club as he faces a winter period with just one fit right back.
Ryan Fredericks’ recent injury has left the Chilean with just Pablo Zabaleta at the position, and the former Manchester City boss was blunt about the severity of the situation in his pre match press conference on Thursday.
“Unfortunately we have just one right full back that is Pablo Zableta. For Pablo, for his age it is impossible for him to play seven games in December so we need to see what we are going to do in that position,” he told Football London. “Fredericks, that’s why we brought him in to help Pablo so to be without him is a very serious thing for our defence.”
Perhaps, then, Pellegrini might consider turning to one of his young stars to solve the problem. Ben Johnson is a natural right back who is extremely highly rated within the Hammers’ academy.
Johnson is just 18 years of age so it would be a significant risk to throw him into the first team picture over the Christmas period, but it doesn’t seem as if Pellegrini has any other choice.
The teenager has performed regularly in Premier League 2 for the club’s U-23’s side this campaign, and signed his first professional contract earlier this year.
Obviously he would be going in at the deep end as he is yet to be seen in the Hammers’ senior squad, but he wouldn’t have to play week in week out, only when Zabaleta’s body cannot take the strain.
Additionally, the West Ham boss has had significant success already this season when placing his trust in youth. Both Declan Rice and Grady Diangana have impressed for the team this campaign, and there’s no reason to think Pellegrini wouldn’t consider chucking Johnson in as well.
The alternative would see the manager stick somebody out of position at right back, Pedro Obiang or Michail Antonio perhaps? With it being a short stay in the starting eleven, wouldn’t it make more sense to give Johnson a go?
If he’s not up to it then Pellegrini can put Antonio in, but at least he’ll know where Johnson stands. And if he succeeds, the Chilean has another young star on his hands. He has nothing to lose.
