Nuno Espírito Santo faces a fresh decision over Joshua Ajala during West Ham United’s three-week international break.
The 19-year-old forced his way into the senior picture with two goals on his first start against Southampton in August.
He has barely featured since.
Ajala has played only nine Championship minutes and 51 minutes in the Carabao Cup defeat to Fulham after his breakthrough night at St Mary’s. West Ham Zone highlighted the lack of opportunities.
Ajala stuck behind senior West Ham options
West Ham’s attacking depth is the obvious obstacle.
Taty Castellanos, Joël Piroe, Jarrod Bowen, Manor Solomon, Edvin Austbø and Pablo all provide Nuno with senior options across the front line.
Claret & Hugh has also noted that Ajala currently appears near the back of that attacking queue. Read their assessment here.
That does not erase what Ajala has already shown.
Our feature on his West Ham Goal of the Month award detailed how his brace against Southampton followed an impressive pre-season and strong academy form.
Ajala has also been trusted around the first-team squad, including the Carabao Cup defeat to Fulham.
International break offers Nuno useful window
West Ham do not return to Championship action until facing QPR on 9 October.
That gives Nuno time to work with players remaining at Rush Green and reassess the balance of his squad.
Ajala’s task is simple.
He must use that period to remind Nuno why his Southampton performance generated so much excitement in the first place.
The pathway is crowded.
But after two goals on his first senior start, Ajala has already shown he can take an opportunity when it arrives.
