Zarate MUST be given a proper chance

Like most of us I’m unable to can’t come to a definitive opinion on Mauro Zarate’s abilities given the lack of action we’ve seen from him but what I do know is I think is that he is better than a 53rd minute sub – ie fifth choice.

His appearance at Everton showed us that this is a bright player with bags of ability who can change things – what he needs is a chance to show that over a run of games.

From what we are hearing at ClaretandHugh, his opportunity may come over the next couple of games with the injury situation unlikely to improve for two or three weeks.

Chiekhou Koutaye could be back next week but reports on the other four – Downing, Song, Valencia and Sakho are not encouraging.and we may even have to make do without them over the next couple of games.

Of course nothing is certain and that is the worst case scenario but surely if that turns out to be the case there has to be a place in the side for the Argentinian.

However, let’s hope that if he does, he won’t be involved in a “let’s hump it forward” situation that confronted him in the last 20 minutes. We’ll never see him at his best in such a scenario. I felt for him!

He was brought here in the first place to play off Andy Carroll and, to provide some variation to the play. Whilst I prefer not to knock Carlton Cole’s contribution down the years, he and Carroll don’t work as a pair.

There’s little point in moaning about the fact that Sam Allardyce loves a big man or two but yesterday against Everton proved again that these two don’t work too well.

I think the manager has to face the fact that Kevin Nolan too needs to be  looked at very hard indeed and that whatever reservations he may have about Zarate, it’s surely the time to give him his chance.

We also need to keep playing football and Zarate can provide a real spark in those circumstances. A return to the style of play we saw in the last 20 minutes isn’t the answer to our current problems.

Zarate, however, may prove to be part of the answer.