OPINION
There’s been some real misfortune as far as goalkeeping injuries have gone in the Premier League so far this season.
On the opening night, for instance, we saw Liverpool’s Alisson Becker go off with a knock that has kept him out ever since.
Fortunately for the Reds, they had a brand new man to help ease their woe between the sticks.
Obviously, Adrian joined the club from West Ham over the summer, and ever since has been a model professional, filling in admirably and covering himself in glory on more than one occasion.
And it turns out that it was a Hammers teammate who helped him get the move.
According to a piece in the Telegraph, in which the Spaniard was interviewed, Aaron Cresswell was largely to thank for the switch happening.
The article reads: “Adrian owes a debt to his former West Ham team-mate Aaron Cresswell.
“It was the full-back who gave Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach John Achterberg – who knew Cresswell from their days together at Tranmere Rovers – a glowing recommendation and Adrian’s mobile number when it looked like Mignolet was going.
“‘I didn’t know that at the time but after I signed he told me,’ he says. ‘So thank you, ‘Cress’, because he had a good word for me!'”.
Now that’s all well and good, or at least it was until Lukasz Fabianski picked up an injury too.
The Pole is unlikely to appear for the Irons again this year, according to manager Manuel Pellegrini, as quoted by Football.London, and Cresswell must be kicking himself.
Admittedly, the Hammers’ new number two. Roberto, hasn’t really put a foot wrong yet, but at the same time, Adrian leads the top flight in terms of minutes per goal conceded.
The 32-year-old has conceded one goal every 114 minutes so far this term, as per the Telegraph. As a point of reference, Fabianski has conceded one every 72 minutes.
Clearly, hindsight sees in 20/20, but how the Irons must wish the could call on Adrian over these next few months.
