Big Vlasic question looming

If Said Benrahma is knocked out of the African Cup of Nations on Thursday, as looks very likely, there will be a difficult question for David Moyes to answer involving Nikola Vlasic!

Benrahma is away with Algeria but the defending champions have been in awful form throughout the start of the competition.

They drew 0-0 with Sierra Leone and were then beaten 1-0 by Equatorial Guinea on Sunday night.

That leaves Algeria rock-bottom of their group and they will simply have to beat Ivory Coast on Thursday to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages but even that may not be enough, especially if Guinea manage to beat Sierra Leone.

And if he does return to the club, one has to wonder if Vlasic will be able to keep his spot.

The latter has struggled throughout the season and was again off the pace against Leeds at the weekend in the 3-2 defeat.

He did not really manage to create a big chance, nor did he manage to test the opposition goalkeeper.

Indeed, he hasn’t managed to do that throughout the season, and his only goal in the Premier League came against Watford, as he scored the fourth in a 4-1 win.

Benny, by comparison, has five league goals and four assists.

While he may blow hot and cold, when he’s hot, he’s one of the very best players in the squad; he can score goals, twist defenders inside out, and make chances for his team-mates.

Vlasic can’t really do that; he may well be relegated to the bench again if Benny is on the first plane back to London on Thursday!