As their injury list goes from bad to worse, West Ham United bolstered their midfield options with the signing of Portugal international Joao Mario from Inter Milan on loan until the end of the season.
With key duo Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic currently sidelined with hamstring complaints, Hammers’ boss David Moyes was quick to admit that the new boy is likely to be fast-tracked into his first-team plans:
“The hardest thing about bringing players over from other countries is them having to adapt to the tempo of the game here.
I would hope that Joao can adapt quickly because we need him to hit the ground running.
We will need to ask for some patience in getting him settled but our situation means we will need to get him involved quite quickly.”
The History
After beginning his youth career at hometown club Porto, Mario moved to Sporting Lisbon in 2004 at the age of 11.
He progressed to make his professional debut as a substitute against Lazio in the UEFA Europe League in December 2011, but it was a loan spell at Vitoria Setubal during the second half of the 2013/14 campaign that saw his stock on the rise.
Mario featured 15 times in the league, registering six assists, and returned to Sporting ready to establish himself as a first-team regular.
In 2014/15, he made 30 league appearances, producing five goals and four assists, while the midfielder bettered that the following season, registering six goals and 11 assists from 33 league outings.
His performances attracted the attention of Italian giants Inter, who paid €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses to sign Mario in August 2016.
The Portuguese midfielder enjoyed a solid first campaign in Serie A, totalling three goals and five assists from 30 league matches but, after starting this season with four assists in his first six appearances, Mario has found first-team opportunities limited under Luciano Spalletti.
Capped by Portugal at every level from U15s to U21s, Mario made his senior debut against France in October 2014, and has played 31 times for his country in total, producing one goal and nine assists.
The Prospects
Despite only confirming the deal on Friday, Moyes included Mario for the weekend FA Cup clash with Wigan Athletic, introducing him as a half-time substitute in the 2-0 defeat.
With a few days’ training under his belt, Mario is expected to be thrown straight into the starting XI for tomorrow night’s home clash against Crystal Palace.
According to the Hammers’ boss, the Portugal international’s versatility will be a welcome addition.
“He can play in a number of roles. There’s a little bit of Manuel Lanzini about his play.
He could play off the left or right and even as a No10 if needed. I hope he will be a player who will create and score a few goals for us.
Even before Manu’s injury we were looking to add some creativity but now the need for that type of player is even more acute”.
The 25-year-old is a technically-gifted player, whose touch, distribution and decision-making are among his stand-out attributes.
An ability to retain possession, particularly in the final third, should be a huge benefit for his new club.
Mario has an 89% pass accuracy rate this season, underlining his quality in possession.
Indeed, he’s impressively created a chance every 32.2 minutes in Serie A this term – that is superior to any West Ham player, including both Lanzini (48) and Arnautovic (61), and indicates he will retain his starting berth even when the treatment room empties.
In terms of goal threat, though, Mario has ground to make up.
Essentially, since arriving at Inter, he’s netted three of his 46 league efforts in 2,553 minutes across the past two seasons – that’s a conversion rate of just 6.5%.
A penchant for long-range attempts is clear to see – 29 of those 46 shots on goal were fired from outside the box.
Nonetheless, Mario is also a hard worker in the middle of the park, and has the work-rate and stamina to press the ball effectively.
With injuries, suspensions and potential transfers out yet to transpire, there is plenty of uncertainty as to how the Hammers will line up over the next few matches.
In the 3-5-1-1 system Moyes has preferred in recent weeks, Mario looks well suited to play as the most attack-minded of the three central midfield players, behind Lanzini and Arnautovic when they’re both back to full fitness.
But he could also play across any of the attacking midfield spots in a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-2-1.
That versatility should certainly be a positive in the short-term considering the current injury crisis.
Given his moderate goal scoring record, Mario will set you back just 6.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), while he’s been priced at 8.7 in the Sky Sports game.
Although Mario looks guaranteed of starts and minutes over the coming weeks, the absence of key players is a big concern and may persuade many managers to sever ties with their Hammers’ assets from this point.
Nonetheless, it’s worth bearing in mind that Moyes’ side still boast some fine short-term fixtures, with home clashes against Palace and Watford, along with trips to Brighton & Hove Albion and Swansea City, over the next five Gameweeks.
Those head-to-heads look all the more crucial when you take a look at what’s on their plate from Gameweek 30 onwards – West Ham square up to seven of the current top nine in a brutal run-in that leaves them with just home encounters against Southampton and Stoke to profit from.
While there’s no denying Mario’s class, it’s Arnautovic – once fit, of course – who remains the most likely source of Fantasy points among Moyes’ men. Should the Austrian shrug off his hamstring problem sooner than later, his output from a recent stint up front suggests he could yet earn a recall to our five-man midfields further down the line.
