Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that he expects forward Albian Ajeti to make his full West Ham United debut against Newport County.
The Switzerland international is set to play for the first time in a Hammers’ shirt after failing to come off the bench in their first three games of the season.
Pellegrini confirmed to Football.London, that he is “sure” the £8million deadline day signing will feature against the Welsh side in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday.
“I am sure that Ajeti will play,” he said.
“He deserves that opportunity, he is doing very well during training sessions.”
Ajeti arrived at the London Stadium from Basel for £8million after the 22-year-old managed to score 21 goals and deliver 11 assists in his 43 appearances last season.
OPINION
Pellegrini will know that he must take the cup competitions seriously, with the League Cup definitely the Hammers’ biggest chance of earning some silverware this season. Rotation is key in a busy Premier League calendar, and resting some big names at certain points will be a given for the Chilean. Ajeti has arrived in East London with a reputation of being involved in a large number of goals if given a run of games, and Tuesday looks like it will be his first opportunity. What a welcome it will be too, with Newport infamous for their cup run last season in which they bullied sides such as Tottenham and Leicester City. Ajeti will need to be physical and embrace the challenge of possibly taking a kick or two throughout the game. The 22-year-old will need to prove he can deliver outside of Switzerland, with the young forward having played a single game in the German Bundesliga as his only experience outside of his home nation, and there would be no better way than scoring on his debut to send West Ham through to the third round.
