Toni Martinez has thanked the West Ham United fans for their support after the striker made his first-team debut in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Martinez, 20, has scored eight times in 11 Premier League 2 appearances for West Ham’s Under-23 team this season.
The club’s fans have long been demanding for the youngster to be given his first-team bow, and that occurred at the weekend when he came off the bench against Shrewsbury Town.
Martinez could not find the back of the net as his team drew 0-0 with the League One club, but the Spaniard was full of praise for the West Ham supporters after the final whistle.
Indeed, Martinez, who is valued at £1.4m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has said that the Hammers ‘have some of the best fans in the world’.
Martinez told reporters:
“It’s unbelievable to hear the support the fans have for me. When I was warming up, I could hear them singing my name and that’s incredible.
“I never played for the first team before, so it was great. We have some of the best fans in the world and I’m proud of that.”
Martinez represented Valencia B between 2013 and 2016 before making the move to West Ham.
The forward scored three times in 15 appearances during a loan spell at League One side Oxford United last season.