Trevor Sinclair baffled by West Ham’s decision not to sign striker in the January transfer window having questioned Jesse Lingard move

Trevor Sinclair is baffled as to why West Ham didn’t sign a striker in January.

The Hammers are flying high in sixth but Sinclair believes the decision not to bring in a new frontman could come back to haunt David Moyes.

Defeat to United in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday night exposed the lack of options at Moyes’ disposal, with an injury to Michail Antonio forcing Andriy Yarmolenko into an uncomfortable striking role and 18-year-old Mipo Odubeko substituted after coming off the bench.

And forrmer West Ham ace Sinclair told Jim White on talkSPORT: “You’ve made your bed, for me, and I go back to the striking options. As we already know, there is history in this.

“Michail Antonio; he struggles to play every game, especially with the fixture pile-up we have got now and he wasn’t able to make the squad for the night.

“When he isn’t playing, then who plays? It’s one of the most difficult positions to learn and master on the pitch.

“It’s alright saying I am a forward, but actually playing that No.9 role when you have to hold the ball up, bring other players into play, you’ve got to know when to stretch the opposition at times to give yourself a chance to get out.

“If the ball is bouncing off you and you are giving possession away, you just don’t have a foothold in the game.”

West Ham did sign Jesse Lingard in January from Manchester United and the attacking midfielder scored two goals on an impressive debut.

But Sinclair is among those to question whether they really needed Lingard.

Although Moyes insists his new signing can play as a false nine, Sinclair feels bringing in an out-and-out striker should have been the priority.

“Talking about Jesse Lingard, I’m not so sure,” he added. “I know David Moyes has worked with him before.

“He is a good player, or he has been in the past. But you look at his record; 2017/18 – 33 games and eight goals in the Premier League.

“In 18/19 he had 27 and four, then you go to 19/20 and he only played 22 games and scored one goal.

“So, for me, I don’t think he is necessary.”