OPINION
West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini is likely to field a strong side as they take on Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, but there will no doubt be a few fringe players handed chances to impress.
One of those who is surely set for a start is right-back Ryan Fredericks, who has been kept out of the side by a resurgent Pablo Zabaleta so far this season.
The jet-heeled wide man arrived on a free transfer from Fulham in the summer, and fans had high hopes for him ahead of the start of the campaign.
Those hopes have so far not been fulfilled, with the defensive deficiencies in the 26-year-old’s game badly exposed in his four appearances for the club.
Zabaleta’s continued brilliance at right-back has not helped Fredericks’ cause, and it now looks a long way back for the flyer if he wants to regain that starting spot.
However, with Zabaleta surely to be rested on Wednesday, Fredericks now has the perfect opportunity to stake his claim for that right-back position, with his appearance in the official programme suggesting he will get the start.
The size of this make-or-break opportunity only increases when you consider the fact that Fredericks actually began his career at Tottenham before being deemed surplus to requirements and sold off to the lower leagues.
Now that he has earned his place in the Premier League after several years, the motivation to prove Tottenham wrong will be extremely strong for the 26-year-old.
That should hopefully drive him to a breakout performance for the Hammers against their bitter rivals on Wednesday, one which hopefully puts him back into Pellegrini’s thinking.
One thing is for sure – if Fredericks fails to impress, then he will likely have to make-do with a bit-part role for the Irons for the rest of the season.