OPINION
West Ham United didn’t always provide the creativity that their supporters craved this season, at one point going through a stretch of several games without scoring a goal from open play.
Players like Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini often shoulder the burden of creating opportunities, but both men suffered inconsistent form to varying degrees at different points of the campaign.
One man who could provide the cutting edge Manuel Pellegrini’s team sometimes lacked this term is Hammers starlet Marcus Browne, who enjoyed an exceptional loan spell with League One side Oxford United this season.
The 21-year-old is a wonderfully gifted young footballer who excelled Karl Robinson’s side. He scored eight goals in the third tier from attacking midfield and returned to Rush Green to train with the first team after the League One season ended, as per Football London.
Pellegrini is thought to be eager to give Browne a chance to impress him in pre season this summer, and rightly so. If the youngster can make an impact in the exhibition games then he could well earn himself a first team squad place next term.
The youngster is a quick, tricky player who is now used to playing first team football. He won’t want to go back to waiting on the sidelines at the London Stadium while other players keep him on the fringes. He’s got the ability to make an impact at this level, so surely it’s worth Pellegrini giving him an opportunity next time out.
The Chilean promoted Grady Diangana to the first team this season, and it’s arguable that Browne is a more proven, high-level prospect than his fellow 21-year-old.
With all that said, Pellegrini should seriously consider giving Browne his big break next campaign. He couldn’t have done more this season to work himself into the West Ham manager’s plans.
