West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo faces a critical period in the Premier League calendar, with his team's momentum set to be tested against AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool. The international break, however, may have provided a secret weapon in the form of young full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Senegal Star Shines on International Duty
The 20-year-old defender, signed from Slavia Prague for £19 million this summer, was a standout performer for Senegal during the break. Diouf scored his first international goal in a remarkable 8-0 victory against Kenya, finding the net after just 13 minutes to make it 2-0. His performance was part of what was described by AllAfrica as an 'offensive avalanche' from the Senegalese side.
This attacking flair is precisely what West Ham invested in. Diouf had already demonstrated his potential with three assists in his first five Premier League appearances, though the team's overall form had sometimes limited his opportunities to maraud forward from left-back.
Perfect Timing for Premier League Challenges
Diouf's return to club football coincides with a potentially favourable matchup against AFC Bournemouth. The Cherries demonstrated vulnerability on their right flank in a 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa before the international break. Villa's Emi Buendia and Amadou Onana both scored exploiting that side.
The situation was compounded by an injury to Bournemouth's right-back Adam Smith and a poor performance from his replacement, Alex Jimenez. The Bournemouth Echo rated the Spaniard's display a 4/10, noting he "looked all over the place" and was substituted at halftime after receiving a booking.
Inspiring Hammers Through Tricky Period
Following the Bournemouth fixture, West Ham host Liverpool at the London Stadium next weekend. Diouf could again prove instrumental, with the right side of Arne Slot's defence having been identified as a potential weakness this season. Facing Liverpool's Connor Bradley presents another opportunity for the Senegalese international to showcase his attacking capabilities.
West Ham approach this difficult run of fixtures with renewed confidence after securing back-to-back wins against Newcastle United and Burnley before the international break. Nuno Espirito Santo will be hoping Diouf can translate his international form directly to the Premier League, providing the attacking impetus needed to continue climbing the table.
