WEST HAM S German international winger Savio may well be playing only a minor role in the club s Premier League campaign this season. The 20-year-old arrived for a hefty fee in a blaze of publicity last January, but failed to show his potential in his 11

WEST HAM'S German international winger Savio may well be playing only a minor role in the club's Premier League campaign this season.

The 20-year-old arrived for a hefty fee in a blaze of publicity last January, but failed to show his potential in his 11 appearances.

Now manager Gianfranco Zola feels that the youngster needs time to adjust to the rigours of Premier League football.

"We are still working on him," revealed Zola. "Last year he came with big expectations from everyone, me included.

"The boy, I remind everyone, including myself, is only 20. He has got some qualities, but obviously he is really struggling with all these heavy expectations on him, and that is putting pressure on himself," he said.

Savio signed from Serie B outfit Brescia for around �5.5million, but any hopes that he was going to be a straight replacement for the departed Craig Bellamy were soon dashed, by the slender and raw winger that arrived at Upton Park.

"We have no doubt he is a good player," insisted Zola. "This year I have no intention of putting any pressure on him.

"I am going to be working on him and hopefully he will give us what we want from him."

With Junior Stanislas and Jack Collison ahead of him in the pecking order, it could be a season on the sidelines for the young German.