West Ham have a host of talented players who are household Premier League names but one who isn’t has impressed the manager the most.
Ask any football fan to list West Ham’s five top players and most would pick the same names.
Hammers stars Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo would be in and around the list.
Perhaps another two summer signings Niclas Fullkrug and Aaron Wan-Bissaka or even Crysencio Summerville too.
But there is one player in the West Ham squad who could make a huge impact this season that most will have never heard of.
Including West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
Over the summer most Hammers fans could be forgiven for forgetting the club had even signed Andy Irving.
The Scot was like a dirty little secret at West Ham at the start of this summer.
Irving was signed in a feeder club deal struck by technical director Tim Steidten with SK Austria Klagenfurt last summer before immediately being loaned back.
The Irons paid a reported £1.5m for the 24-year-old central midfielder to seal the partnership.
There has been an air of mystery and an element of the bizarre surrounding Irving at West Ham since.
West Ham never officially unveiled or announced the Scot as a signing.
There was barely even any mention of the former Hearts player as he started pre-season under Lopetegui.
Lopetegui says West Ham have special player on their hands
A lack of bodies meant Irving was used in most pre-season matches. His underdog story, and a barnstorming goal, saw Irving become an unlikely fan favourite.
The arrival of Carlos Soler and Guido Rodriguez to add to Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta and Edson Alvarez looked like rendering Irving’s presence in the squad pointless.
Irving’s unusual story has made him something of a fan favourite on social media. But nobody realistically expected the Scot to have a place in the squad going forward. Especially after a summer spend of £155m on nine new players.
The midfielder even admitted he thought he’d be leaving West Ham in the summer.
While James Ward-Prowse has been let go by the manager, Irving has been getting in the squads and has even made four brief appearances for the Hammers so far.
He has shot to prominence this week by being handed his first ever Scotland call-up.
Irving has been named in Steve Clarke’s squad for big games against top nations Croatia and Portugal.
Even some fans in Scotland were having to Google the midfielder.
But Irving is no joke. And it won’t be long until he’s starring for West Ham.
That’s if a stunning prediction from his manager is anything to go by.
Lopetegui says West Ham have special player on their hands who he’d never heard of.
In a refreshingly honest interview, Lopetegui has admitted he knew nothing about Irving when he arrived at the club.
Hammers boss admits he’d never heard of Irving
He has been so impressed since that not only has Irving been retained, Lopetegui says he has all the talent to become a key player once he adjusts physically.
Lopetegui says Irving is technically brilliant and hard working.
And he says the rest of the West Ham squad absolutely love him.
“All of the dressing room loves him so we are very happy, he deserves it (the Scotland call-up),” Lopetegui told The Herald Scotland.
“Hopefully he is going to have more moments with us too because he always works hard.
“He is adapting to the level and the physical demands of the Premier League. I think with the ball, he is a very talented player. For sure, he is going to improve and we are happy for him.
“When I came in he was a player I didn’t know at the start but after he showed he understands football, he played well.
“Technically, he is a very good player. I think that, when he is able to adapt his physical rhythm in the Premier League, he is going to become a very interesting player.”
This is extremely exciting for Hammers fans.
Could West Ham have found our very own John McGinn?
Time will tell but Lopetegui has rarely spoken about individuals in such glowing terms since his arrival in east London.
And it’s some compliment from a man that’s been in charge of Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla in the past.
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