David Moyes says Chicharito’s best position is centre forward and he is working out a system to best utilise the Mexico international’s goal poaching talents.
The 29-year-old has netted at a prolific rate for Guadalajara, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and his national side throughout his career.
However, Moyes admits he needs to find a way of getting the best out of Chicharito in a West Ham United shirt.
“Going back to when I started, I think the squad was a group of players where we had a lot of centre forwards, a lot of left wingers,” he explained. “If you going to play three at the back you can’t really fit in wide players and wingers and if you are going to play 4-3-3 you can only play one striker, so I feel as if there was a group of players who were made for a couple of systems.
“So it has not always been that easy to just do that one job, and you are trying to get your best players in the team, so I can understand why Chicharito has had to play in certain roles because there are other centre forwards like Andy Carroll and Andre Ayew here.
“We have got to try and find a way of getting the best balance. We are still working towards getting to that.”
My memories of Chicharito are his finishing and his nearly being on the last shoulder
David Moyes
When asked if the No17, who returns to the squad for Saturday’s Premier League derby with Chelsea after a month out with a hamstring injury, is at his most potent when playing as a centre forward, Moyes was in no doubt.
“I do think that is his best position,” he confirmed. “My memories of him are his finishing and his nearly being on the last shoulder.
“What he needs then is lots of balls in the box and a team that is going to give him that service.”
Carroll is also back in the squad after overcoming his own injury problems, albeit a less serious issue than Chicharito.
However, it sounds like both may begin Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off on the substitutes’ bench.
“Andy started training yesterday so probably in better condition than the likes of Chicharito, who is not long back.
“He has only been out a week or two, while Chicharito has not played for three or four weeks. So I think with match fitness Andy is a little bit closer. But both are not quite ready yet.”