Sources: Never-before-seen West Ham player earmarked for major role amid training HQ rejig

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Published on:

13 Nov 2019, 1:30 am

Manuel Pellegrini will trial David Martin in goal for the first team in West Ham training during the international break, Football Insider can reveal.

The Hammers manager has publicly provided his backing for under-fire Roberto Jimenez following a series of high-profile blunders since he stepped in to replace the injured Lukasz Fabianski.

A West Ham source has told Football Insider that Pellegrini's stance has shifted behind the scenes and he is considering turning to Martin for the first time.

The 33-year-old, who joined on a free transfer in the summer, will be used for what Pellegrini considers the 'first team' during training ground matches over the next fortnight.

Should the experienced goalkeeper make a good impression, he could be promoted into the starting XI for the Premier League clash against Tottenham on Saturday of next week.

West Ham are on a wretched run of four defeats from five league matches that has coincided with the injury absence of Fabianski.

Roberto has been widely criticised by supporters and pundits for his performances in goal since stepping into the number one jersey.

Like the Spaniard, Martin joined the Hammers in the summer but he was immediately installed as third choice and has not had a minute of first-team action.

That could now change as Pellegrini looks to come up with a new winning formula.

Martin, the son of Hammers legend Alvin, has spent virtually his entire career in the English Football League, mostly at MK Dons, and has never played a Premier League game.

In other West Ham news, it can be REVEALED that the phone of co-owner David Sullivan is "red hot" with new manager talk.

West Ham United