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New star Andy Irving says he’s fallen head over heels in love with West Ham
A general view inside the stadium prior to the Pre-Season Friendly match between West Ham United and Celta Vigo at London Stadium on August 10, 202...
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In what is fast becoming a fantastic underdog story at West Ham, Andy Irving has declared his love for the club after his Scotland call-up.

Little known West Ham star Andy Irving rose to prominence last week by being handed his first ever Scotland call-up.

Irving was named in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for massive games against top nations Croatia and Portugal.

The most unlikely of Hammers stars is about to go from playing for Austrian side SK Austria Klagenfurt to potentially playing against the likes of Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo in the next few days.

It is some story for Irving and West Ham.

Over the summer most West Ham supporters could be forgiven for forgetting the club had even signed the 24-year-old.

Even some fans in Scotland were having to Google the midfielder after his call-up.

But Irving is no joke. And it won’t be long until he’s starring for West Ham according to his manager Julen Lopetegui.

The Spaniard admitted he’d never heard of Irving when he joined West Ham.

Ryan Porteous, Andy Irving and Lyndon Dykes of Scotland battle to win a header during a training session at Lesser Hampden on October 08, 2024 in G...
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Irving says he’s fallen head over heels in love with West Ham

But the 57-year-old former Spain boss has been so impressed that Irving has been retained as part of West Ham’s new-look and expensively assembled squad.

Not only that but the Hammers head coach says ‘technically brilliant’ Irving has all the talent to become a key player once he adjusts physically.

West Ham cannot hide from the fact the Scottish midfielder was like a dirty little secret at the start of the summer.

Irving was signed in a feeder club deal struck by technical director Tim Steidten with Klagenfurt last summer before immediately being loaned back.

The Irons paid a reported £1.5m for the central midfielder to seal the partnership.

There has been an air of mystery and an element of the bizarre surrounding Irving at West Ham since.

West Ham’s dirty little secret to cult hero?

The club never officially unveiled or announced the Scot as a signing.

There was barely even any mention of the former Hearts player as he started pre-season under Lopetegui.

A lack of bodies meant Irving was used in most pre-season matches. His underdog story – and a barnstorming goal which forced the Hammers to finally publish his name – saw Irving become an unlikely fan favourite.

The arrival of Carlos Soler and Guido Rodriguez to add to Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta and Edson Alvarez looked like rendering Irving’s presence in the squad pointless.

The midfielder even admitted he thought he’d be leaving West Ham in the summer.

But after James Ward-Prowse was let go by the manager, Irving has been getting in the squads and has even made four brief appearances for the Hammers so far.

Lopetegui said Irving’s teammates absolutely love him.

And it seems the feeling is mutual.

West Ham United's Andy Irving applauds the fans at the final whistle during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Chelsea FC at L...
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images

Hammers star Irving excited at playing for such a big club

Because new star Irving says he’s fallen head over heels in love with West Ham.

Irving also feels invigorated by the challenge of trying to break into the team at a club the size of West Ham United.

“It’s been a mad kind of journey, to be honest,” Irving said on the Scotland National Team’s social media channels.

“I’ve had lots of amazing experiences paired with some bad throughout my time in Germany, especially. But I think as a player on the pitch my game has really developed. I’ve added different parts to my game and throughout my time in Austria I played sometimes a bit more as an attacking midfielder and as a No.10.

“So I’ve played a bit of both now, whereas in Scotland I mostly played a bit more defensive.

“So I think I’ve added different things to my game and off the pitch, my experiences living abroad and learning a different language, a different culture has really helped me grow as a person and toughened me up a bit.

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“Throughout my time at West Ham so far, it’s been great. I’m really, really enjoying it. The last few weeks, especially.

“Getting a bit of game time has been great and that new challenge is something that I’m really excited for. Since I’ve been there with the manager, players and all the staff it’s been really good.

“To be part of a club that size and playing alongside the players that I’m playing with is something I’m loving at the moment.

“It means everything (to be called up by Scotland). To play for your country is the biggest honour that you can have in football. So to be here now and to have this opportunity is just amazing. Thinking back to when I was a little kid, running about with a Scotland top on, to be here now as part of the national team is something really special.”

It looks like West Ham fans called it right in the summer, the Hammers have a have a new cult hero.

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