Former England international Jamie Redknapp has praised the performance of West Ham United playmaker Manuel Lanzini against Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Argentine is still in the early stages of his comeback from a major injury suffered at the back end of last season, but he looked back to his old self in the 2-0 win over the Magpies.
Redknapp, a regular pundit for Sky Sports was extremely impressed with him: “When everything clicks, West Ham are a joy to watch,” he wrote in his Daily Mail column. “The return of Manuel Lanzini only adds to their flair.
“On his first start since a serious knee injury, he pulled the strings against Newcastle, completing 61 passes — more than any player,” he finished.
OPINION
It was fantastic to see Lanzini back making things happen in the West Ham midfield on Saturday. The 26-year-old looked like he hadn’t missed a beat as he produced a performance full of vim and vigour at the London Stadium. West Ham were already having an encouraging season under new boss Manuel Pellegrini, but things might be about to skyrocket after the return of Lanzini. It’s easy to forget what a big player he was for the Hammers last season, but when you witness him linking up with his team mates and befuddling the opposition as he did on Saturday, it all comes flooding back. He is a mercurial talent and the big thing for West Ham is that he’s only going to get better as he delves deeper into his comeback. There’s still more to come from him. That’s a salivating thought for Hammers fans, but a dangerous proposition for the rest of the Premier League.
