Match of the Day pundit Leon Osman believes that there is one thing that sets apart West Ham United winger Andriy Yarmolenko apart from the rest after the 3-1 win over Everton on Sunday.
The Hammers bagged their first three points of the Premier League season at the weekend, and Osman has identified the 6ft 2in [Transfermarkt] ace as a player who took his first team chance and made the most of it.
He believes that what sets apart the 28-year-old from the rest is that he has the ability of a winger, only at the size of a striker – but that makes teams like Everton notice him more when he is on the pitch.
“When I first came up against him, I was surprised by his trickery and guile on the ball for a guy of his size – usually someone of his stature is a centre-forward. But he had a real winger’s ability, only at the size of a striker,” he told BBC Sport.
“That is what sets him apart, and it certainly makes him more noticeable when you face him on the field. It has taken him a few weeks to get into the starting line-up, possibly while he adjusted to the Premier League and what his new manager wanted from him, but when he got his chance he took it.”
OPINION
It comes as no surprise that pundits have been waxing lyrical over the attacker following his superb outing against Everton, as Yarmolenko deserves all of the praise that his way. To perform the way that he did when handed his first Premier League start has now laid down a marker for the rest of the season, and he will surely be the first name on the teamsheet if he continues this run of form. However, Osman is right when he identifies the thing that sets him apart from the rest. Having the ability of a winger but being the size of a striker will only play to his advantage, just as he demonstrated against the Toffees on Sunday. He will now only get better and better as the year progresses now, and Manuel Pellegrini will undoubtedly be asking himself why he did not start the ace sooner – but he will be thankful that he handed him his first start when he did.