OPINION
West Ham United midfielder Pedro Obiang has, for the most part, had to take a back seat this season as Declan Rice and Mark Noble have made the centre of midfield their own.
The 6ft 1 Equatorial Guinea international [Source: Transfermarkt] needs to ensure he takes every opportunity he gets, then, and he did just that off the substitute’s bench against Leicester City on Saturday.
The former Sampdoria man was key in changing the game, giving the Hammers added impetus after Jamie Vardy had cancelled out Michail Antonio’s opener. He, along with fellow substitute Lucas Perez, was a real thorn in the Foxes’ side in the closing stages of the 2-2 draw.
It was Obiang’s shot that hit the post, allowing the Spaniard to convert on the rebound and briefly put Manuel Pellegrini’s side back in the driving seat.
He showed his defensive qualities too, at one point making a tremendous challenge on James Maddison, although he could have done better with Harvey Barnes’s stoppage time equaliser.
Overall, though, this was a hugely encouraging cameo from a man who doesn’t truly seem to have the trust of his manager. After this display, however, there’s no doubt that he has sent the Chilean a message loud and clear.
It was Noble who was the worst of the midfielders on show at the London Stadium, hinting that a central midfield trio of Obiang, Rice and Robert Snodgrass might be something that Pellegrini needs to try at some point in the future.
Obiang may well end up being sold this summer, but he showed enough in this brief spell to suggest that he could still offer West Ham something as a squad player, perhaps even as a first team star if he can find a bit more consistency.
Either way, he’s given his manager a welcome selection headache ahead of next weekend’s clash with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
