Capital One Cup: Lamela and Zaha must grab chance

Brought in for a combined £45m by Manchester United and Tottenham respectively, the lack of impact that Wilfried Zaha and Erik Lamela have made in the Premier League has become an increasing concern for their managers.

Initially seen as the jewel in Spurs' outlandish summer recruitment drive crown, Lamela has been reduced to a bit part figure as Andros Townsend has stolen the plaudits on the right of Andre Villas-Boas' attack, while Zaha has been so peripheral at Old Trafford that bizarre, and false, rumours about off-the-pitch indiscretions have surfaced in an attempt to explain his absence.

Both arrived on the back of superb seasons: Zaha as a central figure in Crystal's Palace's promotion drive and Lamela as one of the few positives in a topsy-turvy season at Roma. The Argentine was tipped as the natural replacement for Gareth Bale, having netted 15 times for Roma last term and cost Spurs a club record £30m, while Zaha was expected to challenge for a United starting place and perhaps force his way into the England squad for the World Cup.

Villas-Boas has acknowledged that Lamela has struggled to adjust to life in England, speaking little English and with his family only arriving in London this week. The 21-year-old's performances in the Europa League have shown little of the dynamism that he displayed at Roma, although trying to shine in much-changed sides away on questionable pitches in Moldova and Russia is perhaps an unfair barometer of his class.

At least Lamela has been playing, as Zaha has not spent a minute on the pitch since the Community Shield and is not even certain to start against Norwich in the Capital One Cup.

The most frustrating part of their poor starts is that both could be crucial to their teams, who have stuttered going forward regularly this term, if they could replicate their form from last season. David Moyes has been forced to field one or two of the inept trio of Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young regularly, with few ready to argue Zaha at his tricky best would not be an improvement on the performances that they have been turning in. Meanwhile at White Hart Lane, there is plenty of tension between fans and their side due to the nondescript attacking play that has been on display, something Lamela would at least partially address if on form.

The Argentine has the perfect chance to show what a difference he can make against Hull in the Capital One Cup, the side Spurs laboured to a 1-0 win over at the weekend. Lamela is 3.259/4 to score at any time in a game that Spurs are 1.374/11 to win.

At Old Trafford, Zaha is 4.77/2 to find the net against Norwich, with Manchester United 1.374/11 to record a third consecutive win at home.