West Ham news: Pundit ‘amazed’ by Andriy Yarmolenko amid ‘huge’ verdict
Noel Whelan is in awe of West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko after his “amazing performances” this month.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League striker said the Ukraine international “deserves huge credit” for playing in light of the events unfolding in his home country.
Yarmolenko was the match-winner for the Hammers on Thursday as they secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
The 32-year-old has scored twice in his last three appearances for David Moyes’s side.
As quoted by Football.London (18 March), Moyes hailed the importance of Yarmolenko and said he hopes the goal spread the message about what is going on in Ukraine.
When asked for his assessment of Yarmolenko’s form, Whelan told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge:
“First of all, he deserves huge credit for having the mental strength to come out and play given all that is going on in his country. To be putting the performances in that he is, with the pressure on his shoulders and worry of what is going on in the back of his mind…
“It looks like is going on has galvanised him. He is not just doing it for the club. It’s as if he is playing for Ukraine. He is doing it for everybody.
“You have to hold your hands up because it’s a worrying and emotional time whether you are Ukrainian or not. He is putting in some amazing performances, probably the best I have seen from him in a West Ham shirt.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed West Ham could sign the ‘next Jarrod Bowen’ after transfer update.