Star’s nose dive in form explained as illness revealed | West Ham News

West Ham’s international contingent had a hectic three weeks whilst their team mates had valuable time off and training under Nuno: Several completed four games in fourteen days in the middle of an energy-sapping Championship season and it was assumed that this was the cause of an evident drop in energy levels and performance –  from one player in particular.

Whilst Dinos Mavropanos looked robust and strong despite four full games for Greece, Manor Solomon looked a shadow of the player who’d started the season so brightly within West Ham’s left side of attack.

There had even been calls to replace the Israeli with young winger Edwin Austbø, such has been the impact of Solomon’s fall off in performance.

However the player himself has opened up to the West Ham web site, explaining it wasn’t merely fatigue which had taken its toll:

“We’ve had some ups and downs, and there have been intense periods with lots of games, but we’re in a good place and we feel we can keep progressing.

“Over the last few weeks I was struggling a bit with illness after being away with the national team, so I wasn’t in the best shape and I didn’t have the best energy.

Now I feel that’s behind me, and I’m ready to help the team at my maximum for sure.”

Which will be good news, if Manor Solomon can recapture both the fitness and form from early on, which delivered goals and assists plus one man of the match award.

Anyways with Austbø waiting in the wings you’d think Solomon will not have to put in a full ninety minutes shift as an out and out winger.

Nuno could field both players, Solomon moving inside, allowing Austbo to patrol the flank. Alternatively a straight swap might be preferred – much will depend on the state of the game at the time.

Assuming, that is, that Nuno doesn’t ring the changes (as many fans have suggested) and leave Solomon on the bench in favour of the young Norwegian against Southampton tomorrow.