West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has expressed his delight towards Robert Snodgrass revitalising his career in east London.
Snodgrass, 31, was on the brink of a West Ham exit over the summer but the Scotland international has since showcased his worth this season and is now one of the first names on Pellegrini’s teamsheet.
How did Snodgrass revive his West Ham career? Five things to know…
- Snodgrass was signed by ex-West Ham boss Slaven Bilic from Hull City in 2017 but failed to impress.
- The Scot spent last season on loan with Aston Villa in the Championship.
- He was expected to be sold over the summer but impressed during pre-season.
- Pellegrini instructed the former Leeds United winger to lose weight and has since been impressed by his attitude.
- Snodgrass has started eight matches this season and has registered one assist.
Snodgrass has endeared himself to the Hammers faithful this campaign due to his impressive work-rate and tenacious attitude, transforming his on-field perception in east London.
The Scotsman returned to the starting XI on Saturday having served a one-match suspension, which kept him out of the Manchester City capitulation, and immediately repaid the faith shown in him by his manager by teeing up Javier Hernandez for the opening goal.
Pellegrini’s side thwarted a toothless Newcastle United 3-0 at St James’ Park over the weekend, and the Chilean has since heaped praise on his rejuvenated winger.
“There were very few words that I spoke with him at the beginning of the season. I gave him some demands about his weight, about his work,” Pellegrini said, as quoted by The Scotsman.
“I always found him a good player. [It] just will depend on what he wants, if he had a spot here for the season. He’s a very professional player. He’s doing it very well because he had desire to be here.”
‘Complacency will be West Ham’s downfall’
West Ham will be looking to record back-to-back league wins for the first time this season when they play host to strugglers Cardiff City on Tuesday night.
The Hammers’ run of fixtures in December will see them pit their wits against Crystal Palace, Fulham, Watford, Southampton and Burnley, but Pellegrini insists their focus remains solely on Neil Warnock’s side, though he is not expecting an easy match by any stretch of the imagination.
He added: “If we have our minds focused on Cardiff, it will be an important advance. To win three more points is what we must do here at home.
“One of the most important mistakes you can do is to think that because a team is in a bad position in the table it will be an easy game.
“The best games we played here were against Chelsea and Manchester United.
“I hope we are conscious tomorrow about that. I hope we give [the] maximum of our pace and quality to have three points more (against Cardiff) and after that to think of the next rival.”
The post Pellegrini pleased with Snodgrass turning his West Ham career around appeared first on Squawka News.
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