Fabian Balbuena will be very unfortunate should he find himself behind Issa Diop for first-team selection at the weekend.
The Paraguayan played a key part in the match against Spurs, grabbing a well-headed goal and producing another competent performance at the back.
Given that he had spent 20 hours in the air returning from international duty with Paraguay, that was an impressive display from the central defender.
With Diop now recovered from Covid-19, the battle is back on between the two of them for a starting role with Angelo Ogbonna now a fixture after regular high-class performances.
And with Craig Dawson available for emergencies we don’t look as badly off – given Balbuena’s recent form – as some might have believed earlier in the season.
Like the rest of the squad,the General is delighted with the way things are going and reckons most Premier League teams will now be seeing a match against the Irons as a tough call.
Commenting at West Ham’s official website, he said: “We know that only eleven can start and then you have to wait for your opportunity, which I did, working every day and never giving up, doing my best so that when I got my opportunity I was able to take it as I did.”
Delighted with the amazing comeback he added: We knew we were playing against a good team and away from home, so I think the way we are working and the way we are playing we know we are in the correct way. We just have to keep going and keep working as we are doing.
When you don’t play, you feel a little bit without confidence but that is normal because every player wants to play.
We know that only eleven can start and then you have to wait for your opportunity, which I did, working every day and never giving up, doing my best so that when I got my opportunity I was able to take it as I did.”