Holland turns heat up on Pellegrini

Nathan Holland again staked a big claim for a first team squad spot when firing two past Swansea under 23s in the team’s latest victory.

It’s difficult to understand why he isn’t at the very least in the match day squad now and again given the hit and miss form of  Felipe Anderson.

Maybe the thinking is that he should not be blooded at a time when the team is struggling although that of course doesn’t explain why he hasn’t been used at all at PL level. at any point

It’s been said that he is one injury away from a first team place but it seems that when a change is made down that side it’s usually Arthur Masuaku  or Manu Lanzini who gets the call.

Many fans are frustrated that Holland is being given no sort of chance at all and the lad himself must be wondering what more he has to do.

And in the 4-2 win over Swansea U23s yesterday afternoon he was one of those who turned the game on its head after a slow start for Dmitri Haljako’s  team with two brilliant finishes – both times cutting in from the left and finding the bottom right corner.

His  eighth and ninth goals of the season were sandwiched between Anthony Scully’s equaliser and Dan Kemp’s fierce shot which gave the Premier League 2 Division 2 points for the league leaders.

Afterwards he said:  “It was tough – Swansea made it tough – but we knew it would be like that.”

“I think we stuck in during the first half and dug deep, and then in the second, when we got our chances, we looked really dangerous going forward, as we have all season. Luckily we got the four goals and finished them off.

“It wasn’t our best performance of the season, but we got the win, and that’s the most important thing.”

The goals also fell in a week which has seen Holland shortlisted for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award, but Holland insists that he and his teammates are determined not to get ahead of themselves.

“I definitely work on that!” Holland said of his finishes. “I think everyone has their strengths as a player, and I’d definitely say cutting inside is one of mine.

“I just try to work on my finishing and make every single shot count, and luckily I got two goals today, but broadly, it was a brilliant performance all team round.

“I’m just taking everything in my stride, working really hard. I’m happy to be fit and playing week in, week out, and hopefully I can just keep going.”