Former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie believes Danny Ings is unable to play as a lone striker.
Hammers bolstered their forward ranks in the summer with the signing of Gianluca Scammaca for £30.5million from Italian outfit Sassuolo.
But a slow start to his Premier League career, two goals before January, and a lack of form from Michail Antonio, two goals before 2023, saw David Moyes dip back into the market in the winter window.
READ MORE: Harry Redknapp makes Declan Rice transfer point amid Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United link
Ings was signed from Aston Villa for a £12m fee but has followed the same form as other strikers this season, only finding the back of the net twice since his arrival.
And McAvennie, who spent five years in east London across two spells, believes the way to deploy the ex-Liverpool attacker is to play him as a duo alongside Antonio.
“Ings can’t play on his own,” he told westhamzone.com: “I think he’s a great striker but he can’t play on his own, so why play him up front on his own? I don’t get it.
“Everyone can see that. He’s never played on his own. They’ve bought a few like this before. I wouldn’t even try him.
“He can’t do the holding up work that you need to bring others in. Ings can’t do that. He’ll put the ball in the net. He’s got to play with Antonio or he doesn’t play at all. Don’t play him on his own.”
READ NEXT
- 'No mean feat' - Alan Shearer makes Nayef Aguerd point following Manchester United display
- David Moyes makes Michail Antonio point ahead of West Ham's semi-final test against AZ Alkmaar
- Why West Ham want Newcastle and Liverpool to win their next games amid relegation battle
- Danny Murphy and Jermain Defoe agree about West Ham's Declan Rice amid Arsenal transfer links
- ‘Made my night’ - Declan Rice posts classy response after viral fan video at West Ham vs Man Utd
