Dubliner Armstrong Oko-Flex has been named on the bench for West Ham United in the Premier League for the first time in tonight's clash with his former club Arsenal.
The 19-year-old Ireland underage international has been rewarded for his prodigious form with the club's under-23 side as the Christmas calendar stretches resources.
Former Tolka Rovers and St Kevin's Boys schoolboy Oko-Flex is more comfortable either side of the striker but has been in hot form in Premier League 2.
He is joint-second in the goalscoring charts with 11 goals in 14 games, just behind former Arsenal teammate Folurin Balogun.
Oko-Flex has been included in Jim Crawford's recent Ireland under-21 squads but is yet to make an appearance.
Crawford noted that Oko-Flex, who made his senior debut with Celtic earlier this year, may need to make a loan move to advance his career.
He said: "It's a conversation he needs to have with his coaches, key people around him: what's his next step? Should he go on loan to a club that suits him?
"Armstrong would be a player that needs the ball at his feet because he's exciting in that way, getting at people and what have you.
"So it's a conversation that needs to happen with the club, to go on loan, but to the right club too, whether that's League One, League Two? I don't know.
"Is that a little bit further afield? Belgium? Holland? It's something we've had a conversation about. I've asked him to do it, have that conversation with those close to him."
