OPINION
Sam Byram – remember him West Ham fans?
You can be forgiven if not. After all, the 25-year-old has not been seen by the Irons supporters – or any supporters for that matter – in quite some time thanks to his massive injury layoff.
He played just two League Cup games and a single Championship game – in which he lasted 75 minutes – while on loan at Nottingham Forest before being struck down and he is yet to make a return for the City Ground side’s first team.
However, Monday (01/04) saw the forgotten West Ham man, who has 36 appearances under his belt for the Hammers make a significant step in his recovery process, turning out and playing for the full 90 minutes for Forest’s under-23 side.
It was a notable moment for the right back, who will no doubt have been desperate to get playing after his eight months out, and it could have big ramifications for his future.
To say that West Ham’s current options on the right hand side of defence have not lived up to expectation would be a fair assessment, with Pablo Zabaleta and Ryan Fredericks hardly stealing the limelight in east London – and the Daily Star report that Manuel Pellegrini is looking for right backs ahead of the summer transfer window.
With a couple of weeks until the season comes to an end, Byram knows that his comeback has left him a little bit of time to rescue his career in east London and prove to the Chilean he is deserving of a chance.
His injury will not have done him any favours but if he can demonstrate some sort of decent form after such a long layoff, then maybe the manager at the London Stadium will pay him the attention he wants.
