View: West Ham star may be ready to quit London Stadium in Jan as Moyes ‘problem’ shared

West Ham United forward Said Benrahma has grown frustrated by his lack of game time at the London Stadium and his continuous “problem” with David Moyes could lead to an exit in January.

Former Eurosport journalist Dean Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport (29 September) insisted that the Algerian international is “feeling let down” whenever he is nudged down the pecking order, such is the fierce competition in Moyes’ improved squad.

The former Brentford forward has started five games in all competitions so far this season with just 303 minutes of Premier League action under his belt since the new campaign got underway after playing an integral role throughout last season, featuring in 50-odd games.

Jones believes that Benrahma is having to stay calm over his lack of opportunities.

He said: “Well, it’s a problem that Said Benrahma has again and again, and he’s having to control his own feelings and not lash out when he probably feels like he should be in the team.

“And he’s also having to stay calm so that when he gets the opportunities, he actually makes the most of them.

“Obviously, he’s going to be feeling down whenever he is nudged down the pecking order at West Ham, but it’s such seems to be the story of his life at West Ham, and he’s dealt with it again and again, and he just has to keep on bouncing back and proving that he deserves more game time.”

While the Algerian international may be quelling the need to lash out every time he isn’t picked in the Hammers starting line-up, it’s always been a problem of his at the club given his lack of consistency.

Moyes may be perfectly justified in his decision to drop him now and again but it’s a problem which could simmer into an inevitable exit before long.

New arrivals such as Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse and Konstantinos Mavropanos not only provide some brilliant depth to this West Ham United squad but should also serve as a warning to every player at the club that they can be displaced.

Improved squad depth will be valuable to the Hammers as they look to compete across all four tournaments this season, including in Europe, but it could leave some players fearing for their first-team place.

And that fear has certainly fallen on Benrahma especially after his crucial role for the club last season, playing all of 50 games as they triumphed in the Europa Conference League.

The former Brentford forward will have certainly felt that his increased role last season meant he’d be guaranteed starts this time around but that certainly hasn’t happened right now.

The ball certainly lies in his court in the fact that he will have to be patient. The Hammers fighting on all fronts means he’s bound to get opportunities but he’s got to grab them with both hands.

Whether he’s patient enough is another matter entirely and he could look to quit in January should these “problems” ramble on.