Can Martin Olsson cope with a rejuvenated Stewart Downing?

For a lot of Stewart Downing’s career he has been considered as an underachiever. That may be a result of the huge fee that was paid for his services at Liverpool, or his poor form while at Anfield, but he has slowly gone about changing his reputation for the better in the last year or so.

After completing an entire Premier League season without a goal or assist the year prior, last term under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers saw Downing’s form really come to life. He finished the season with 61 key passes to his name – more thanChelsea’s Eden Hazard – and he claimed five assists. Remarkably, he even scored three goals.

Downing’s key passes and assists for Liverpool in 2012/13

Now, at West Ham, he has continued his positive form in a side that was built around Sam Allardyce’s desire for direct balls into the box. The current campaign has seen the 29-year-old make 18 key passes, the fifth most in the English top flight, and looks to be enjoying life in east London.

Downing is West Ham’s leading chance creator this season

The Hammers travel to Norwich on Saturday and the man whose job it will be to stop the former Aston Villa winger is Sweden international Martin Olsson, who is having a miserable season at strugglers Norwich.

The Canaries have conceded an almost embarrassing 20 goals in their opening 10 games while only scoring six at the other end. But while Chris Hughton seeks a balance for his side to alleviate some pressure from his shoulders, there will be many keeping an eye on the battle between Downing and Olsson.

The latter has the pace to deal with most opponents who run at him and also has the patience to stand them up, and those two components of his game have set him up nicely in the tackling department . Olsson has completed 11 of his 12 attempted tackles so far this season.

Olsson’s duels in 2013/14

While the former Blackburn man has the speed advantage, Downing’s ability to hoist himself inwards while darting down the flank can generate that little pocket of space that allows him to whip a ball into the area. While only 5/13 of Downing’s take ons have ended in favour of the England international, 66.7% of the chances that he has carved have come from the right flank. If Olsson can force him wide and prevent him cutting inside then it will certainly have a positive effect for the home side.

Olsson is also impressive in the air, winning 10/16 of his headed duels this season, which could have an impact on the central areas of the West Ham side. Mark Noble is often keen to spray a ball out to the wide areas where but Downing may have to tuck inside and drop slightly deeper to collect the ball from his team-mate.

Mark Noble’s passing length in 2013/14

It will be an intriguing battle on Saturday afternoon which may ultimately decide the game. Downing has made at least one key pass in all eight of his games so far and is on the hunt for his first goal of the campaign. Meanwhile, Norwich come into the game on the back of a 7-0 drubbing from Manchester City and will have spent much of the week working on their defensive organisation and are presented with an opportunity to shine some light on what has been an unpleasant season so far.