There would likely only be one answer if West Ham United striker Taty Castellanos was asked to name the greatest moment of his professional career.

In April 2023, Castellanos scored four times against Real Madrid to secure Girona a famous victory over the 15-time European champions. Beating Thibaut Courtois on four occasions across 50 minutes either side of half-time, West Ham United’s number eleven also became the first La Liga player in the 21st Century to hit a quadruple against Los Blancos.

Hammers News can confirm that there is bemusement inside the London Stadium regarding Castellanos’ struggles in front of goal this term. He has missed as many penalties as he’s scored goals in the Championship so far [one in ten appearances].

Yet, although that infamous performance against Real Madrid feels like lightyears ago right now, it also offers some encouragement for Castellanos in the present.

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cumberworth57

On his day he’s a real asset with his pressing and hold up play but something is not right with him!

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peterbaptiste1

I think he believes he’s better than he is. Trying too many fancy touches rather than putting his foot through it. That said, He is capable of much more

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If you look through his entire career – spells at New York City FC, Girona, Lazio, and now West Ham – you will see that the goals tend to arrive in bunches.

That Real Madrid performance came after Castellanos, newly-confident and raring to go, ended a four-game La Liga drought in his previous match. He would score in two more matches after that Los Blancos obliteration. Goals in four successive games, and seven in total.

After a sluggish start in Italy following his move to Lazio in 2023, Castellanos finally got going with a Europa League brace against Nice. He would rack up six goal contributions in a spellbinding three-game burst.

Castellanos came flying out of the blocks with three goals in four Serie A appearances in his second season in Rome, before embarking on a run of two in nine.

Even in New York, where he claimed the MLS Golden Boot in 2021, Taty flitted from the anonymous to the awesome and back again. He scored once in his first 12 Major League Soccer games. Then came ten in his next 13 starts.

After plundering a hat-trick against city rivals New York Red Bulls, he scored in each of the next six games. A further six goals in four games came following a four-match drought in late-2021.

In early-2022, he snapped a five-game drought with four in a 6-0 thrashing of Real Salt Lake. Sparking a run of 13 goals in 11 matches.

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peter.lynch

There’s no way he joined with the championship in mind… think he’ll head back to Italy sooner rather than later

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“Castellanos is great on his day,” European football oracle Andy Brassell told talkSPORT following that £27 million move to the London Stadium. “He’s strong. He can hold the ball up. He causes bother to defenders. He makes life uncomfortable. But he doesn’t do it on a consistent enough basis.”

Brassell’s comments could hardly have aged better.

The good news is that, if Castellanos does find the net for the first time in a while when West Ham travel to Southampton, West Brom, Cardiff and Blackburn should beware. When he ends a drought, a flood often follows.