What the return of Lanzini could really mean

Aaron Cresswell has hailed the return of Manu Lanzini as like “a new signing” for the club.

The impact on the crowd was stunning as ‘The Jewel’ appeared against Fulham so we can only imagine what it meant for the team.

Thrilled Cresswell could easily have been speaking for all of them when he said “Everyone knows his quality and it’s great that he’s back. ”

Manu had a couple of chances to score on what would have made the night entirely magical for everybody but it wasn’t to be.

And Cressie was as sick as everyone else that he didn’t find the back of the net saying: “I was gutted. It wasn’t to be, but I’m sure he’ll only get better between now and the end of the season.”

ClaretandHugh says: “Along with Declan’s signing of a new six year Hammers deal, the return of Manu Lanzini is my top moment of the season. The thunderous London Stadium reception is reserved for the Hammers greats. Fans know…absolutely know. Talk to anyone within the club and they will all say the same thing. The little maestro is as much a diamond geezer off the pitch as he is on it and that is saying rather a lot! What was so impressive on Friday night was that despite him having been on the sidelines for eight months following on of the worst injuries a player can pick up, he threw himself into the game as though he’d been out for a couple of weeks with a ‘dead leg.’ It was extraordinary to watch as he darted out of midfield to give himself a chance of a goal. It’s his return and the thought of him and Felipe Anderson linking to create chances for the chosen strikers which gives the feeling that the end of season could be amazing. Pellegrini has the man back around whom he he was going to build the team and that is exciting. We’ve been making do and mending for weeks – now the ‘Pellegrini Hammers’ could really be on its way.