Mohammed Kudus suffered one other setback to stardom and a possible main switch after his pink card towards Tottenham Hotspur. The Ghanian continued his glowing kind with a well-taken objective to place West Ham forward earlier than dropping his cool within the face of a crushing defeat. Saturday’s incident could possibly be an enormous put-off for the hosts of large golf equipment concerned with signing the 24-year-old.
Irritating week for Kudus
Though their final African Cup of Nations win dates again to 1982, Ghana has at all times been among the best groups within the continent. However after ten successive participations, the Black Stars are in actual hazard of lacking out on the 2025 AFCON.
The stunning 2-0 defeat to Sudan in Libya means they’re 5 factors behind the final qualification spot with solely two video games left. Kudus just isn’t the one high-profile identify within the squad with Thomas Partey and Inaki Williams anticipated so as to add additional risk.
Regardless of his captaincy position, Arsenal’s midfielder solely featured in 4 of Ghana’s final 14 matches. In the meantime, Athletic Membership’s striker solely discovered the online as soon as since selecting his mother or father’s nation over Spain in 2022.
Equally, West Ham failed to provide high quality service to Kudus on the minute. Lucas Paquetá is at the moment distracted by his alleged involvement in a betting scandal. German worldwide Niclas Füllkrug signed with big expectations, however he couldn’t assist the facet with an harm layoff.
Julen Lopetegui changing David Moyes additionally didn’t impress the East London membership. West Ham solely collected eight factors from as many league video games. The Fifteenth-placed workforce’s two wins got here towards Premier League’s backside 4 golf equipment, Crystal Palace and Ipswich City.
And that frustration kicked in when Kudus wrestled Micky van de Ven on Saturday. The preliminary three-game ban could possibly be prolonged with additional assessment. Since signing for the Premier League outfit, he solely missed video games throughout the 2023 African Cup of Nations.
Kudus must be extra decisive within the occasion of a switch
Whereas he would reasonably wish to proceed taking part in, the suspension may nonetheless present a mirrored image time to work on his weaknesses. That features discovering his composure in moments like Saturday’s confrontation.
He got here out overly aggressive to assault the Dutch defender twice within the warmth of the second, however Kudus didn’t even get a reserving in his earlier 16 league matches. It’s additionally the primary straight pink card in his younger profession.
However there’s actually room for enchancment on the subject of his performances. Kudus scored some memorable targets – a elegant scissor-kick towards Brentford, a solo strike within the Europa League win over Freiburg, and a spectacular bicycle kick at Manchester Metropolis – however he solely scored 10 Premier League targets in 41 appearances.
Like final season, Kudus at the moment sits forward of everybody in accomplished dribbles. However he has but to file an help this marketing campaign. Jarrod Bowen is the one Hammer within the listing of prime 25 key move makers.
These fundamental and underlying stats inform the total story of Kudus. Though there are distinctive moments right here and there, he must be extra decisive in entrance of objective. His West Ham contract will run till 2028, and the discharge clause expired on the finish of final season. It’s now as much as Kudus to boost his market worth aloft.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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