West Ham centre-back Issa Diop put in an excellent performance against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
The Frenchman has had a difficult time of things over the last couple of seasons and it will be hoped that the defender has now turned a corner.
Some supporters on Twitter think the arrival of Kurt Zouma from Chelsea may have forced Diop into upping his game, while others believe the 24-year-old can play an important role this season:
Let’s hope he can continue playing like this as zouma and Diop could be a great partnership for years to come.
— Mike Rivers (@Rivs0501) September 23, 2021
Great player tough hammer ⚒⚒⚒⚒
— Robby Nelson (@RobbyNe87682100) September 23, 2021
By his standards a poor season last time around that might well have been down to picking up COVID about this time last year. Looks too as if he’s already struck a fine friendship/partnership at the back with fellow Frenchman Zouma. Let’s hope they go from strength-to-strength🤦♂️
— Tony Poole (@restbaykid) September 23, 2021
diop and Zouma partnership looks pretty good planning for the long time future full backs needs improving
— Markwake@14 (@Markwake141) September 23, 2021
Hopefully he keeps on and we have a french connection with Areola, Diop and Zouma for years ⚒️
— Tristan Lewis (@TristanJL4) September 23, 2021
Zouma will bring him to the next level ❤️⚒️
— Jonad Dhrami (@dhramijo) September 23, 2021
Moyes likes him & probably told him this his time will come & si far moyes has let the players he didn’t want leave but he thinks a lot of diop & with the backroom team he diop will eventually partner zouma now that is a atring partnership very similar to oggy but younger ⚒
— Peter Deasy (@PeterDeasy1) September 23, 2021
I think working with Zouma will do him wonders tbh! Both French too
— FPL Cockney (@FPL_Cockney) September 23, 2021
I trust all 4 CB’s we have. COYI!
— harrythehammer🇬🇧🏴⚒ (@oneill_trevor) September 23, 2021
It’s probably best not to get too carried away with Diop’s performances. After all, manager David Moyes is unlikely to give him a league start this weekend versus Leeds, with Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna expected to be the favoured pairing.
If he can continue to show what he is all about in the Europa League and cup competitions, though, there is a possibility that he could regain his place in the first team pretty soon.
