Diouf should be worried at Brentford; teammate's elite creative stats spell trouble

Diouf has started just once since his £40m summer move as teammate Lewis-Potter's elite creative output at fullback makes him undroppable.

El Hadji Malick Diouf's £40m transfer to Brentford from West Ham is looking increasingly problematic after a difficult start to life at the club. The Senegalese fullback has managed just one Premier League start since arriving in the summer, and his playing time shows no signs of increasing.

The issue is not Diouf's quality but rather the emergence of teammate Keane Lewis-Potter, who has become undroppable at left-back. Lewis-Potter ranks second among Premier League fullbacks for deep completions per 90 (1.4) and second for expected assists per 100 passes (0.49), demonstrating exceptional creative output.

He also ranks third for progressive passes and fourth for progressive action rate, showcasing a consistently forward-thinking approach.

Manager Keith Andrews has options to deploy both players simultaneously, with Lewis-Potter's versatility allowing him to play as either fullback or winger. However, Brentford's strong start to the season suggests the manager is content with current selections, leaving Diouf facing a frustrating campaign on the sidelines.