West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has increased expectations on young striker Xande Silva by tipping him for a big future with the club.
The Portuguese arrived at the London Stadium in the summer and had been making waves for the team’s U-23’s side before suffering an injury. However he returned to action last week, scoring twice against Blackburn Rovers.
And Pellegrini is a big fan: “He is another player who I think has a lot of future at this club,” he told Football London. “He is doing well.
“He is coming back from two months without playing and we are always seeing his games in the U-23’s. He has the option to work with us and have a spot in the first team squad.”
OPINION
It’s massive for Silva that Pellegrini has already given him the opportunity to train with the first team. It’s clear that the Hammers boss rates the youngster incredibly highly, and his displays this season have shown us why. Silva seems to be a natural born goalscorer, and that’s something that the team needs with the futures of Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll all uncertain. It’s likely that he won’t really make an impact with the first team this season, but the fact that he is already in Pellegrini’s thinking means he is way ahead of schedule as it is. Pellegrini touting him as a star of the future with the club is a big compliment and says it all about how highly rated the attacker is in the West Ham set up. Firstly, though, he needs to play regular football with the U-23’s to rediscover his form and fitness after a long period out injured.
