Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell believes that Gianluca Scamacca will not have to wait much longer before getting another opportunity to start a top-flight match.
The Italian has only been handed one start in the league by David Moyes since coming to the London Stadium, although he has been used heavily in the Europa Conference League and plundered a few goals as the manager shuffle his pack.
The £35.5m summer signing has scored three times in four games on the continent so far for the Irons, including one in last week’s 3-2 win away to Silkeborg.
However, despite Scamacca scoring three days prior, Campbell has admitted that he still expected Michail Antonio to lead the line at Everton – as was duly the case – but he is expecting the 23-year-old to be more involved after the international break.
Campbell backs Scamacca to start
The 52-year-old told Football Insider: “Am I surprised? No, I’m not surprised at all. Michail Antonio has been a handful in the Premier League for the last three or four years.
“There was always talk of Michail Antonio needing somebody to come in when he’s either gone off the boil or he needs to play another position.
“We’re talking seven games in, after another three games, that’s when the league will start to settle down.
“There will be games where I’m sure Scamacca will probably start with Michail Antonio maybe playing another position.
“Until that moment I think it’s probably a case of getting Scamacca used to the West Ham way and what David Moyes wants.
“He scored a good goal in Europe, he’ll get his European games obviously, to keep him match-fit. I’m sure when David Moyes feels it’s right, he’ll get a start in the Premier League.”
West Ham’s goalscoring woes
West Ham head into the first international break of the campaign in the bottom three of the Premier League after a disappointing start to the season. Moyes’ men fell to their fifth defeat in seven league games as they lost 1-0 at Goodison Park against Everton last Sunday.
For the fourth time in the Premier League already this term, the east London side failed to score, and they have the joint-worst attack in the division, netting just three times.
Antonio, who finished as the club’s second-highest scorer in the league last term (10), is one of only three players at the London Stadium to open their account in the 2022/23 top-flight campaign.
However, as Campbell says, you would expect that it’s only a matter of time before Moyes hands seven-cap Italy ace Scamacca a more prominent role in the league if the Hammers’ woes in front of goal continue.
