West Ham manager David Moyes has sprung an enormous surprise as under-23s right back Jeremy Ngakiia makes his first team debut against Liverpool at London Stadium.
With Pablo Zabaleta having played 90 minutes for the last three games in a row at the age of 35, he's been given a rest for the game. Ryan Fredericks is still absent with a hamstring injury to Ngakia gets the chance to shine.
Ngakia has become a regular for Dimitri Halajko's table-topping youngsters having made his debut for the under-23s against Spurs in February 2018.
Ngakia was born Deptford, south London and started his career at the trialling for the Chelsea academy before making the move to east London as a 14-year-old.
The right full-back, equally adept as a right winger, rose quickly up the ranks and made 17 appearances for the Hammers’ under 18s side during 2016/17 while still a schoolboy before putting pen to paper on a scholarship deal at the end of that season.
He has been involved in a number of first team squads this season on the bench but has now finally got the call up to start for the first team.
Ngakia's inclusion is reminiscent of when Manuel Pellegrini chucked Ben Johnson into the fire for his Premier League debut in a 1-0 defeat for the Hammers at Manchester City last season.
Ngakia has been deputising for Johnson for the under 23's this season as Johnson has been struggling with hamstring injuries throughout the campaign so far.
West Ham starting XI: Fabianski; Ngakia, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Rice, Snodgrass, Lanzini, Masuaku; Haller.
