‘One of the most talented’: Irvine suggests West Ham player could make rare start

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West Ham United assistant coach Alan Irvine has told Football London Andriy Yarmolenko could make his first Premier League start of the season after shining in midweek.

After playing a combined total of 30 minutes against Arsenal and Newcastle United, the £19 million Ukraine international had a point to prove when the Hammers hosted Hull City in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round clash.

And prove it he most certainly did.

Yarmolenko was the best player on the pitch as the top-flight outfit battered their third-tier opponents 5-1 at the London Stadium, setting up Robert Snodgrass and Sebastian Haller before slotting home a trademark strike of his own at the death.

And, ahead of Sunday’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Irvine indicated Yarmolenko could be rewarded with a rare start.

“Andriy is one of the most talented players I have worked with. He has competition with Jarrod Bowen but, at the moment, he is performing well in the Carabao Cup games,” Irvine said when asked if the former Dortmund ace could be included in the starting XI against Wolves.

It remains to be seen if any of the other players who stood out in the cup battering will keep their place when Wolves come to town.

Teenager Aji Alese looked the part on his senior debut in place of Issa Diop, while Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini, Robert Snodgrass and Haller offered a timely reminder of their talents.