West Ham boss David Moyes hints at opportunities for Domingos Quina but Toni Martinez left to wait

KEY POINTS

Moyes said shortage of midfield options could give 18-year-old Quina chances.
But Spanish starlet Martinez remains low down on the Scot's striking pecking order.

David Moyes has hinted 18-year-old midfielder Domingos Quina could be the next youngster to be given a chance to break into the West Ham United first-team.

Quina, who made his senior debut for the Hammers in July 2016 under Slavan Bilic, regularly featured on the bench in the Premier League last season and has featured twice this term in the Carabao Cup.

West Ham are currently in talks with the former Benfica and Chelsea talent over a new contract with his current deal set to expire in 2019. A shortage of options in the middle of the park could see the Portuguese youngster handed an opportunity to impress in the Premier League, although the outlook is less sunny for 20-year-old forward Toni Martinez, who Moyes suggests is well down the pecking order at the London Stadium.

"I have always wanted to introduce young players, especially when I think it is right, as I showed during my time at Everton," Moyes told a press conference on Thursday.

"Declan Rice has already been in the side for a few games this season. The bigger problem for Toni Martinez is that he has competition in front of him from other centre forwards – Andre Ayew, Diafra Sakho, obviously Andy Carroll as well can do that role, so that is his biggest thing.

"Young Domingos Quina has been training with us and he was on the bench as well. We are a bit short of midfield players, so the openings can come for young players due to injuries or suspensions or just not having players in those positions."

Martinez has eight goals in 10 Premier League 2 matches this season. With Andre Ayew and Michail Antonio missing through illness and injury respectively last Sunday against Watford, the Spaniard was named among the West Ham subs, but failed to get on the pitch with Moyes instead selecting Diafra Sakho to replace Andy Carroll mid-way through the second-half.

But with Ayew now recovered and Marko Arnautovic available again for Friday's [24 November] clash with Leicester City, Martinez's hopes of moving up the pecking order appear slim.