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Hernandez riddled with sickness bug

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OPINION

With such an inconsistent start to the season, no one has cemented their place in the West Ham United side so far this season.

Manuel Pellegrini made many changes for the game against Brighton with a couple in defence and Javier Hernandez coming in to lead the line due to a knock picked up by Sebastien Haller.

Despite some changes being forced for the Hammers, they managed to come away with a draw from the AMEX Stadium, a result Pellegrini will have been delighted with.

One thing the result and performance didn’t do, is clear up who will be keeping their spot going forward – with more changes surely expected in the next few games ahead.

Claret and Hugh have reported that Hernandez has picked up a sickness bug during the week – something that could jeopardise his chances of consistently keeping his spot as a striker.

With club-record signing, Haller, expected to return after missing only one game – something as small as a sickness bug is a frustrating blow which could leave Hernandez back on the bench, struggling for game time.

The way West Ham have lined up early on in the season, the Mexican international struggled for service against Brighton, but did what he does best by sticking away his only chance.

Hernandez has averaged 1.5 shots on goal but also failed to register a single key pass or complete one dribble according to WhoScored, and his physical play when up top isn’t good enough compared to Haller.

Haller, on the other hand, proved his worth as a physical forward for Eintracht Frankfurt last season, winning an average of 6.9 aerial duels per game as well as 1.3 key passes [WhoScored] – with Pellegrini surely hoping the Frenchman can replicate that at the Hammers.

With Hernandez a doubt through injury, he is surely facing being axed permanently with Haller waiting in the wings to get going.

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