Irons Marmite man can do himself a favour on Tuesday

By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings

We’re in the midst of another international break and to be honest I have very little interest in the plethora of games going on across countries and continents far and wide.

Sending footballers to the four corners of the world at a time when we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic seems complete folly.

Having said that, I will admit to having one eye on the current Africa Cup of Nations tournament, and in particular Tuesday’s up-coming game between Madagascar and the Ivory Coast, when Sebastien Haller will be hoping to win his second cap for his newly adopted country.

Our enigmatic striker scored against the same opposition on his international debut last Friday and if selected on Tuesday Haller will get the opportunity of more valuable game time, and the possibility of adding another goal or two to boost his fragile confidence.

Ok, the opposition aren’t exactly Premier League standard. Madagascar might mean more to many of us as a computer-animated comedy film than a footballing nation.

But a goal is a goal in any language! Any striker will tell you every goal counts no matter how it’s scored or who it’s scored against. They help breed confidence and boost morale for the players whose bread and butter is hitting the back of the net – and Seb seems to have been in need of some confidence boosting recently.

Our ‘marmite’ man has certainly split opinion amongst supporters. Some want nothing less than him gone and out the door in January. Others insist he should be given more time, and maybe more help, out there on the pitch to recapture the form that prompted his £45m arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt .

An international call-up in itself has surely got to give any player a lift. An international goal is bound to add icing to the cake. Another productive performance for the Ivory Coast could well be instrumental in providing a ‘silver’ lining for West Ham.

Haller’s last full 90 minutes against Fulham was a noticeable step-up in application and form from what we had seen before. With Michail Antonio getting ever closer to a first team return after injury, Sebastien’s time to impress might be running out.

The speculation is that Mikey could be available for the bench against Sheffield United next Sunday. That will give Haller at least some more game time to make an impact. Another goal under his belt on Tuesday for the Ivory Coast will surely mean he return’s in good heart – and dare I say it, with a smile on his face!