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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
JOE KRISHNAN

Roberto dropped: West Ham goalkeeper David Martin makes debut vs Chelsea

West Ham goalkeeper David Martin will make his Premier League debut at the age of 33 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Martin, who signed a two-year deal after arriving on a free transfer from Millwall, has been drafted into the side with coach Manuel Pellegrini facing a goalkeeper crisis.

First-choice stopper Lukasz Fabianski is still sidelined after tearing a hip muscle in the draw with Bournemouth back in September and back-up goalkeeper Roberto has struggled for form.

The 33-year-old endured a nightmare afternoon in the 3-0 defeat to Burnley, scoring an own goal before his error helped the Clarets scored their second.

(PA)

West Ham haven't won a game since Roberto came into the side, losing five of their last six games and conceding 13 goals in the process.

Pellegrini has been careful not to to criticise the Spaniard individually, but has chosen to replace him with veteran stopper Martin, who featured in Millwall's last 10 games of the season in 2018-19.

He will be tasked with keeping the Hammers' first clean sheet since September 22.

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, James, Zouma, Tomori, Emerson Palmieri, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Mount, Pulisic, Giroud

Subs: Christensen, Kante, Willian, Caballero, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi, Azpilicueta

West Ham: Martin, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Cresswell, Rice, Snodgrass, Noble, Fornals, Felipe Anderson, Antonio

Subs: Zabaleta, Yarmolenko, Roberto, Sanchez, Haller, Masuaku, Ajeti

Referee: Jonathan Moss

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