“Anderson has been really disappointing this year” bemoans ex West Ham striker

Felipe Anderson has been a shadow of his former self according to one former Hammers forward.

West Ham currently sit just outside the relegation zone after their latest defeat come at the hands of a rampant Leicester City side who ran out 4-1 victors in yet another feeble away performance, a story Hammers fans know all too well this campaign.

It was actually the reverse fixture of this tie that cost Manuel Pellegrini his position in the Olympic Stadium hot-seat, West Ham falling to a 2-1 home defeat to The Foxes first time around.

They fared little better this time around with David Moyes at the helm, Leicester’s three points never really looked in doubt as they scored two either side of Mark Noble’s 50th minute spot-kick.

Anderson has been nursing a back injury since falling awkwardly in the 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United earlier in the month. He is not scheduled to return to action for another four weeks.

However his performances have hardly been missed in the two games he’s been absent. Anderson has struggled to recapture his goal scoring touch this season, he didn’t actually find the net once under Pellegrini this campaign.

One man who thinks Anderson’s form has left a lot to be desired is former Hammer Steve Jones. Speaking to Love Sport Radio, Jones claimed the Brazilian has lost his spark.

“Anderson has been really disappointing this year, I think he’s only got one goal and one assist compared to last year with nine goals and double figures in assists. Everything is sideways and backwards for him.”

“I’ve seen him a few times at home one on one and he goes sideways rather than taking the ball and carrying it into the box and driving it at people which with his skill and pace would cause numerous problems like it did last year - he hasn’t done it this year.”

Jones also claimed he hopes manager David Moyes has his eye on some players to keep Anderson on his toes; “Hopefully David Moyes has got a couple players in the transfer window with pace that he’s going to look at.”

Listen to Martin Bell on Love Sport Radio weekdays from 12pm on Love Sport Radio.