At least, during the clash with Fulham two days after Christmas, Kyle Walker-Peters more than held his own. The same cannot really be said, unfortunately, of one Ollie Scarles<\/a>.<\/p>\n Though El Hadji Malick Diouf<\/a> had slipped some way shy of his early-season brilliance during those final few outings before the Africa Cup of Nations \u2013 defensive errors becoming more commonplace and no assists since the Graham Potter era \u2013 the recent performances of West Ham United\u2019s<\/a> reigning Young Player of the Year have many fans praying for Senegal\u2019s early exit.<\/p>\n What do you think about Callum Wilson RETURNING to the West Ham XI? <\/p>\n And would you keep the faith with Ollie Scarles?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n Just to add to the frustration, the 2021 AFCON champions have not found much use for Diouf so far in the 35th edition of Africa\u2019s premier competition.<\/p>\n West Ham United\u2019s El Hadji Malick Diouf explains his sidelining for Senegal<\/p>\n Diouf missed Senegal\u2019s AFCON opener<\/a> against Botswana due to a one-match suspension he picked up before the tournament. <\/p>\n With Galatasaray flyer Ismael Jacobs performing so impressively in his absence, the \u00a319 million signing from Slavia Prague was then left on the bench for a 1-1 draw with Wan-Bissaka\u2019s DR Congo.<\/p>\n Whether Pape Thiaw hands Diouf his first minutes of the competition against Benin \u2013 Senegal face The Cheaters shortly before West Ham kick off against Brighton on Tuesday night \u2013 remains to be seen. <\/p>\n Nuno\u2019s first-choice left-back is not one to throw the toys out of the pram, though, insisting that he will be supporting Jacobs from the sidelines if he is again restricted to a watching brief. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a very, very complicated match,\u201d Diouf tells D Sports<\/a>. \u201cBut we are Senegal. It will be an AFCON match, so it\u2019s bound to be difficult. We know what awaits us and we want the victory.<\/p>\n \u201cStarter or not, I\u2019m in the squad. I\u2019ll stand by those on the pitch. That\u2019s the most important thing. We must be united to win the AFCON, as captain Kalidou Koulibaly said.\u201d<\/p>\n Senegal face Benin as West Ham host Brighton and Hove Albion<\/p>\n Should Senegal and DR Congo reach the latter stages, as they are expected to, Diouf and Wan-Bissaka could miss seven league matches<\/a> in total. Two down so far, and concerns are already rising about Scarles\u2019 ability to last the pace during what feels like a make or break spell in West Ham\u2019s season.<\/p>\n They say no man is an island, but a tearful Scarles looked all alone<\/a> as he trudged off following that fateful misplaced clearance last time out.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all good here [in the starting XI or on the bench]. We\u2019ll accept it. We\u2019re all here to play,\u201d Diouf added, via Foot Senegal TV<\/a>. \u201cSo there you have it, that\u2019s the [manager\u2019s] decision. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine, it\u2019s fine since there are 28 of us and we\u2019re all here, ready to play.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will wait; we will remain professional because the final decision rests with the coach. If he puts me in the starting line-up, I\u2019ll play. If I\u2019m not a starter, I\u2019ll stay with the team. Even if it\u2019s just for one minute, I\u2019m going to go in and give my maximum.\u201d<\/p>\n The ASSIST KING may be coming to West Ham! \ud83d\udc51 <\/p>\n How do you feel about those Souffian El Karouani links?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n Souffian El Karouani arrival could give Nuno a solution to his left-back problem<\/p>\n Should West Ham succeed in getting a bargain deal done early in the January window for Souffian El Karouani, though, Diouf\u2019s absence might not be so keenly felt.<\/p>\n Per Dutch publication RTV<\/a>, El Karouani is \u2018on his way\u2019 to England<\/a> from Eredivisie outfit FC Utrecht.<\/p>\n Utrecht owner Frans van Seumeren has since confirmed that the West Ham target will be sold<\/a> in the coming days or weeks, so long as he does not sign a contract extension at the Stadion Galgenwaard.<\/p>\n![\"Callum](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/West-Ham-v-Brighton-predicted-XI-819x1024.jpg\")
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Photo by Kevin Hodgson\/MI News\/NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Souffian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Souffian-El-Karouani-stats-819x1024.jpg\")
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