OPINION
Sam Byram has become something of a forgotten man.
The right-back struggled to force his way in to new manager Manuel Pellegrini’s plans at West Ham over preseason, and has since found himself out on loan at Championship Nottingham Forest.
Things haven’t gone to plan at his new club though, and the full-back has been out of action since August with a knee ligament injury.
According to the Nottingham Post, however, the 25-year-old is back in training, and has impressed Martin O’Neill with his effort.
That could be great news for the Hammers, who could be facing something of an issue come the end of the season.
As Pablo Zabaleta could be on the verge of retirement, the Irons might left a man short in the full-back positions, and Byram could be the figure needed to step into his shoes.
Ryan Fredericks has done a decent job since coming back form injury recently, and Ben Johnson, naturally a right-back despite his debut on the other flank against Manchester City, is looking as if he could be on the brink of a breakthrough, but the Hammers could still need to strengthen in defence.
Byram may have fallen out of favour at the London Stadium, but that has been less a case of his talent being called into question, and more a result of his dreadfully unfortunate injury record.
Now that he is back, however, if he can get a good run of games behind him and prove to O’Neill, and indeed Pellegrini, that he is reliable, Byram could get a second chance.