MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 23:52:55| >> :120:36840:36840:

Manuel Pellegrini insists he trusts Roberto in Lukasz Fabianski absence

Manuel Pellegrini insists he trusts Roberto in Lukasz Fabianski absence
© Reuters
Regular number one Lukasz Fabianski will not play again this year due to injury.

Manuel Pellegrini has urged West Ham fans to get behind stand-in goalkeeper Roberto.

Pellegrini has been forced to turn to Roberto with regular number one Lukasz Fabianski, last season's player of the year, out until 2020 following a hip operation.

The 33-year-old arrived in the summer on a free transfer from Espanyol, replacing fellow Spaniard Adrian following his surprise switch to Liverpool.

Roberto did little to convince supporters when he shipped four goals in the Carabao Cup defeat at League One Oxford last month.

But Pellegrini has no doubts about the experienced shot-stopper and insists West Ham are in safe hands.

The Hammers boss said: "Of course last season Lukasz was one of our best players and one of the best goalkeepers in the League.

"He continued this season in the same way but unfortunately for him and for the team he is injured.

"We brought Roberto in and we have the same trust in him as with Lukasz. He's a goalkeeper with an important career with big teams. I am absolutely sure he will replace Fabianski in the way we know he is able to.

"I don't think the supporters have any doubt about Roberto. Against Oxford we had a very bad performance, but not because of him.

"I see him working every day and everyone, especially the fans, must trust in him."

West Ham head to Everton on Saturday, the scene of their first Premier League win under Pellegrini after they began last season with four straight defeats.

Andriy Yarmolenko scored twice that day, but a few weeks later he was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an Achilles injury.

The £17.5million winger has begun this season with a bang, finding the net three times already, while he was also on target for Ukraine against Portugal in midweek.

"I'm so happy for him that not only is he playing, but he has also scored for our squad and for Ukraine," added Pellegrini.

"I think he also had a very good game, and I hope that he will continue at the same performance level with us.

"We must be careful with him because he cannot play a lot of games in a row because he's just coming back from a season where for nine or 10 months he couldn't play.

"But I am sure that he will be an important player. That's why we bought him."

ID:375451: cacheID:375451:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3756:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Conor Coady in action for Wolves on September 19, 2019
Read Next:
News Extra: Coady's Liverpool praise, Newcastle's January plans, Spurs fitness boost
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Bublik
Carballes Baena
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
11.30am
Altmaier
Fils
11.30am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
11.30am
Alexandrova
Krueger
11.30am
Bucsa
Kasatkina
11.30am
Dolehide
Kalinina
11.30am
Jimenez Kasintseva
Paolini
11.30am
Linette
Sabalenka
1pm
Baez
Van Assche
1pm
Hurkacz
Draper
1pm
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
1pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
1pm
Kostyuk
Sherif
2pm
Zheng
Putintseva
2.30pm
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
2.30pm
Darderi
Fritz
2.30pm
Boulter
Montgomery
3pm
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
3.30pm
Vondrousova
Rogers
4pm
Griekspoor
Daniel
4pm
Munar
Struff
5pm
Navone
Rune
7pm
Coric
Zverev
8.30pm
Collins
Danilovic
11.30am
Shang
Davidovich Fokina
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!