Peter Swan says it's bench at best for Hull City's out-of-favour strikers Nick Proschwitz and Matty Fryatt when West Ham visit the KC Stadium - and he'd start Yannick Sagbo instead of Danny Graham.
NICK Proschwitz has scored five goals for Hull City's Reserves and then has struck again to put the Tigers into the last 16 of the League Cup. Does that mean he's done enough to get a start against West Ham on Saturday?
In my opinion, the answer is no, as I still don't think he's good enough. Has he done enough to merit a place on the subs' bench for a cameo against Sam Allardyce's men? Yes, I think he has.
It might sound harsh, but I don't think he'll ever be ready for a consistent starting role in the top flight. Having watched him for over a season now since his £2.6m move he appears to have the technical ability and can score goals, which is obviously what you want in a striker. However, I don't believe he has the heart and desire to get in where it hurts, which is needed in English football.
You can teach players to pass, control the ball and shoot. What you can't do is put hunger and fight into players, you have to be born with it.
I feel for the kid because he's obviously been working hard and is willing to stay at the Tigers and fight for his spot. Fair play to him for that, but can I see him staking a claim for a regular Premier League start? No, I can't.
On Tuesday he won a few flick-ons and a few headers and scored the winner, but I'm still not convinced he can do it when he's got to get in the thick of it.
I always remember Billy Bremner saying to me when I started out: 'when are you going to come off to have stitches around a cut eye?'
I wondered what the hell he was on about. I soon worked it out. He meant I had to be prepared to put my head in when the boots are flying. That was my style, I just don't think it's Nick's.
Having said that, I do believe he currently merits being above Matty Fryatt in the Tigers' pecking order of strikers. That is a big statement to make given the negatives against Proschwitz. Since he came back after his Achilles injury, Fryatt has looked rusty and way off the pace. I know he hit the post against Huddersfield, but if clubs were looking at him on Tuesday – and Leeds were the latest – I wonder if they would walk away saying 'we must sign him?' I don't believe so at the moment. They could, though, say 'let's take a chance on him' based on his past goalscoring record in the Championship.
Unlike Proschwitz, Fryatt has proved himself in the second tier with the Tigers. Playing for City's Reserves or sitting on the bench at Premier League level is a waste of his talents, and I believe Fryatt would benefit from going out on loan.
For West Ham on Saturday I'd stick with Sone Aluko partnered by either Yannick Sagbo or Danny Graham up front. I'd go for Sagbo, but every time I've said that Steve Bruce has stuck with Graham, so maybe I should say Graham and see what happens!
I don't see why the Tigers should fear anything West Ham have to offer. They've played the top teams like Chelsea and Manchester City and handled them well, beaten Norwich, drawn with Cardiff and then went to Newcastle and won in front of an intimidating Toon fanbase.
West Ham have a lot of experience in their ranks, but are not as good as Chelsea and Man City, so Bruce will be looking for a positive result. Up front Hammers have the likes of Ravel Morrison and Ricardo Vaz Te. With all due respect, they're not in Manchester City or Manchester United's class attacking-wise. Allardyce's teams tend to play direct, so City are likely to have plenty of possession.
It's down to whether Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore can continue to control the midfield, and whether City can create chances and take them. If so, then there's reason to be hopeful for another three points to their tally.
