Not many West Ham United fans even expected Angelo Ogbonna to start alongside Issa Diop this season, but now he’s been heavily touted as ‘Hammer of the Year’ so far after continuing to impress in a dire run of results.

Ogbonna has replaced Fabian Balbuena as first-choice centre-back after starting just 20 games last term when he was regularly criticised, maintaining his position since the second game-week of the Premier League.

The 31-year-old has come under heavy praise for his consistent form and some supporters are even suggesting he’s been Manuel Pellegrini’s best player since the start of the campaign…

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Ogbonna has averaged 1.6 tackles and 5.4 clearances per game so far in 2019-20 and will only cement his place alongside Diop at the back further if he continues his run of form.

The experienced Italian is deservedly in the conversation regarding the player of the season so far and is certainly up there with the likes of Declan Rice and Andriy Yarmolenko, who have also caught the eye.

With Balbuena currently out of form and Winston Reid out of action, West Ham fans should get used to the sight of Diop and Ogbonna in the heart of the defence.

Has Ogbonna been your 'Hammer of the Year' so far?

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