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Wolverhampton Wanderers
Joe Cole has made a prediction about Sebastian Haller’s game time at West Ham United on BT Sport (Sunday, 9:10pm) after the French striker came off the bench to score an excellent header in a 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday night.
Haller, 26, has endured a difficult time at West Ham since he penned a five-year deal at the London Stadium – following his club-record £45million move (BBC) to east London. Last season, Haller scored just seven goals in 34 appearances.
But this season, the former Eintracht Frankurt ace has been lethal in front of goal. In two Carabao Cup outings, Haller has netted four times with a brace apiece against League One clubs Hull City and Charlton Athletic.
On Sunday, with the score reading 3-0 after a Jarrod Bowen brace and Raul Jimenez own goal – Haller replaced the impressive Michail Antonio and headed a fourth into the net. But Cole reckons he will have to wait on the bench for a while yet.
“He came here with a great goalscoring rate in the Bundesliga, and he has been great in the Cup,” Cole said. “Antonio has taken his shirt, but he is going to have to spend some time on the bench and keep doing what he did tonight for a while.
“If he can get to the level he was in the Bundesliga, then he will be a real handful for any team in the Premier League.”
TBR’s view – Does Haller deserve more of a chance?
His form this season has been excellent, despite facing two third-tier sides and then netting in a match where the Hammers were already 3-0 up. But you still have to put the ball in the net, and Haller has done that with aplomb.
Sunday’s effort showed Haller’s true class, twinned with some renewed confidence. Excellent technique and perfect placement that you would expect from a £45million striker. But Antonio, unfortunately for Haller, was the difference.
The former Nottingham Forest star was in stunning form for the Hammers once again, proving far too hot to handle for the Wolves defence. Yes Haller probably deserves more of a chance, but Antonio is keeping him out – and rightly so.
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