The West Ham United youngster could have changed the game against Watford.
It is fair to say that David Moyes’ first game in charge of West Ham United did not go according to plan, with Watford running out 2-0 winners to heap more misery on the long-suffering Hammers fans.
West Ham were two goals down with just under half an hour to play and, with the visitors in desperate need of something different, it would have been the ideal time to give youngster Toni Martinez a chance to impress. Instead, with Moyes’ men desperate for a way back into the game and it was Diafra Sakho who was called upon.
While that decision is understandable given the latter’s experience, Marko Arnautovic’s injury just a few minutes later could have been the signal for West Ham to put their trust in a player who has taken the under-23s by storm.
Instead, it was left-back Arthur Masuaku who came on for the Austrian and Martinez watched the last 15 minutes fizzle out just when he could have given the Watford defence something new to think about.
Martinez will get chances at West Ham, and Moyes was perhaps aware of the pressure and unwilling to cast the 20-year-old as a potential saviour too soon.
The thing is, Sunday’s match was ripe for a fairy tale and if you cannot throw a prolific young forward on for his top flight debut when you are chasing two goals and down to your final roll of the dice, when can you?
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