Soccer

    Julen Lopetegui: Aaron Wan-Bissaka can reignite his career at West Ham

    Planet Sport writerStaff Writer24 August 2024
    Aaron Wan-Bissaka

    Aaron Wan-Bissaka

    West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has backed Aaron Wan-Bissaka to rediscover his best form this season and earn an England cap.

    Wan-Bissaka, 26, joined the Hammers earlier this month for £15million and is set to make his debut at former club Crystal Palace on Saturday.

    The right-back seemed destined for big things when Palace sold him to Manchester United for £50million five years ago.

    Shortly after his switch to Old Trafford he was called up by England for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Kosovo and Bulgaria, but was forced to withdraw from the squad through injury.

    Despite going on to play almost 200 times for United, Wan-Bissaka has not had a look-in since.

    But Lopetegui insisted: "He's a good player with good physical strengths, a maturity with his age, maybe the best age.

    "He has the experience to play in a big demanding club, in Manchester United. He's going to have the same for us. For sure he's going to help us a lot.

    "It's not my work to choose for England. Maybe if he wants to play then it's a challenge for him to be able to do better and show he is able to play for England - but it's not about one or two matches, it's about having consistent performances.

    "Can he achieve that with West Ham? Hopefully. Let's see. It depends on him. He will have to play well. For sure he is going to have this chance. But I always say the same, with the work you can go one way but he has to work. He's going to have the opportunity here.

    "Let me say one thing, he cannot be here thinking about the national team. He has to be here thinking about West Ham, his work with West Ham. The other things are consequences of good work. The focus has to be to make minutes and help West Ham."
     

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