Spotlight on Roberto with West Ham goalkeeper cast in the Adrian role as Lukasz Fabianski’s understudy

Stepping up | Roberto trains ahead of Saturday's London derby with Crystal Palace
West Ham United FC via Getty Images
Giuseppe Muro4 October 2019

It is a measure of the brilliant form Lukasz Fabianski has been in that West Ham fans are worried that his absence could derail their fine start to the season.

Fabianski faces three months out, and possible surgery, with the hip injury he suffered at Bournemouth.

With the Hammers having seemed ready to challenge for Europe, this is a major setback for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

West Ham could now be without their No1 until after Christmas and his absence leaves huge gloves to fill.

The timing is also worsened by Adrian’s performances for Liverpool, with West Ham’s former backup goalkeeper deputising with aplomb with Alisson Becker sidelined.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Pellegrini must now trust another Spanish goalkeeper, Roberto.

33-year-old Roberto arrived on a free transfer from Espanyol in the summer after Adrian rejected the offer of an improved contract.

The Spaniard has played more than 300 matches in Spain, Portugal and Greece. He has won three league titles with Olympiacos and also boasts Champions League experience.

Roberto spent last season on loan at Malaga Photo: AFP/Getty Images/Jorge Guerrero
AFP/Getty Images/Jorge Guerrero

Still, it takes every player time to settle in a new league.

There are reservations among some fans about Roberto, given what they have seen from him during pre-season, two Carabao Cup games including the 4-0 defeat at Oxford United(below) and his 56 minutes against Bournemouth.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

He looked nervy when he initially came on at the Vitality Stadium but he made a crucial save from Callum Wilson at 2-1 in the second half before Aaron Cresswell equalised late on.

That save will have done wonders for his confidence and Pellegrini has backed Roberto, a giant who stands at 6ft 4ins, to be a safe pair of hands while Fabianski is out.

Latest | Fabianski could be sidelined for three months Photo: West Ham United FC via Getty Images
West Ham United FC via Getty Ima

“I trust him a lot,” said Pellegrini as Roberto prepares to make his first Premier League start at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday. “He has had a long career in Europe. I am confident that he will have a good performance.

“He has experience playing in big teams. Benfica are one of the biggest teams in Portugal, Olympiacos in Greece, Espanyol and Malaga in Spain. He is a goalkeeper who transmits a presence in the goal and all the defenders trust him a lot.”

Before he came on against Bournemouth, Roberto had only started eight cup games in the previous 18 months, and last started a league match was for Malaga in April 2018.

But Roberto insists he is ready to step up. “I work every day to make everything possible and now I feel absolutely ready,” he said. “So I am not feeling nervous.”

David Martin, the 33-year-old son of West Ham legend Alvin Martin who joined on a free transfer from Millwall in the summer, will cover for Roberto while Fabianski is out.

West Ham can sign a free agent but, for now, they will stick with Roberto and Martin. Former Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm (below) is available if things change but West Ham also have talented 20-year-old Nathan Trott out on loan at AFC Wimbledon.

Photo: Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I

There will be inevitable comparisons between Roberto and Adrian this weekend but Pellegrini has no regrets about the way things have worked out with his back-up option.

“No regrets because we did everything we could to keep Adrian,” he said. “He was a player who played six or seven years at West Ham and was a goalkeeper I trusted a lot, but for different reasons he did not arrive to reach a new contract. I do not have any regrets about that because I have a lot of trust in Roberto.

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