When the kick off whistle blows on Friday night, signalling the resumption of West Ham’s promotion push in earnest, there are eighteen games ahead before the transfer window opens once again, and the Hammers may yet have unfinished business to conduct to complete Nuno’s famous ‘rebalancing’ of the squad.
The arrivals in the summer of Adama Boiro, Morato, Joel Piroe, Edvin Austbø, Arne Engels, Manor Solomon, Joel Veltman and Divine Mukasa have reshaped the starting line up and made it competitive for the Championship.
One of the more unexpected effects has been to banish Ollie Scarles from the starting line up after a somewhat shaky first couple of games. The academy graduate has, in many opinions, a big few months ahead. With Morato now seemingly the first choice left back – despite being a centre back signing – Scarles could be looking at a career – defining few months.
Could Scarles face the same fate as Freddie Potts?
Five starts in eleven games has seen the academy graduate fade into the background after Morato’s inspired selection as an ’emergency’ left back option by Nuno, who knew the player well from his ‘Forest days.
It must be the case that if Scarles can’t make it into the starting line up in Nuno’s Championship side, he’s not going to get a whiff of a chance should West Ham work the oracle and secure promotion back to the Premier League.
Without electric pace or a wicked cross- as his predecessor El Hadji Malick Diouf possessed on occasion – Scarles is reliant on positional common sense and graft which has on occasion deserted him both this season and last.
Whilst he seems to have been around the first team forever, at just 20 he has plenty of potential to develop and needs to be forgiven his mistakes ( including rash challenges leading to penalties conceded.. )However if he can’t break through with no specialist left back in the squad, you’d suggest his days in Nuno’s squad may well be numbered.