David Moyes has lauded Pablo Fornals as an unsung hero of West Ham United’s squad after Spain named the midfielder in their plans for their October fixtures, via football.london.
La Roja face Italy in the semi-final of the Nations League on October 6, before the winner will face either Belgium or France in the final on October 10. Fornals’ place in Luis Enrique’s plans comes after his international return during the last break in September.
Enrique recalled Fornals to the Spain squad for the first time in three-years, and the West Ham dynamo proved a key part. The 25-year-old helped inspire a 4-0 win over Georgia by assisting Pablo Sarabia. He then marked his first start by scoring in a 2-0 win at Kosovo.
Enrique thrilled Moyes by naming Fornals in the Spain squad as it shows how far West Ham have come. The Hammers boss revels in the number of international players at the London Stadium compared to when he first arrived.
“He’s a really key player for us and he has been a bit unsung, when last year he was probably under the radar quite a bit, and I did mention it at the end of the season,” he said.
“We are thrilled he is in the Spain squad, because let’s be fair, we’ve got some really good players from England internationals, now we have Spanish ones, boys in the Czech Republic squad. So, we’re beginning to build up a team [of international calibre options].
“When we first came, we had very few international players and now we’re beginning to get many, many more. But I agree, Pablo has done a great job, and hopefully keeps that standard up.”
Moyes effusive in praise for West Ham and Spain star Fornals
Fornals did not look an inch out of place as the West Ham midfielder made his international return last month. He delivered a relentless performance for Spain against Kosovo, with the same tireless work-rate consistently given in east London.
Moyes will hope to see Fornals keep up those standards for West Ham and Spain this term. The £67k-a-week maestro already has two goals and an assist after six appearances in the Premier League. He has also started all of his outings, plus the Irons’ win at Dinamo Zagreb.
The Hammers’ £24m signing from Villarreal particularly impressed with his efforts against Leicester City. Fornals shone for Moyes as West Ham hosted the Foxes in August, timing his runs to perfection and causing problems.
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