Former Premier League striker Noel Whelan has tipped Nikola Vlasic to return to West Ham in rich goalscoring form.
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has headed off on international duty with Croatia for World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Slovakia.
Since completing a deadline day transfer to the Hammers, Vlasic has struggled to have the desired impact in East London.
Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan predicted the break to work wonders for the new Iron.
Vlasic is a great player with a great pedigree, but he needs time. It’s not easy coming from another country to live here. He’s got to learn to play with his teammates, adjust to the new culture. They’ve gone out and got a top player but we just need to be patient. Maybe Moyes wanted to shore things up [against Brentford] instead of chucking on another striker in Vlasic. Look, give him two more weeks, let him return from international duty – he’ll be looking to capitalise from now until Christmas and grab his first goal. That’s what can kickstart a player in his position form-wise – goals, goals, goals. If he gets his first one, he could go on a run and get two or three.
So far this season the 29-cap Croatian has made six appearances for the Hammers but is yet to contribute directly towards a goal.
After the international break, Vlasic and the rest of David Moyes’ side will make the trip back to former employers Everton for a Premier League showdown at Goodison Park – perhaps the perfect place to ignite a career back in England.
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Whilst things haven’t exactly gone to plan in the early weeks of the Croatian’s career at the London Stadium, nobody has shown signs of losing patience.
Clearly a talented individual, members of the Hammers faithful can be confident that the results are just around the corner.
