On-loan Hammer  Carl Jenkinson is set to make his debut tonight at Hull alongside former Arsenal team-mate Alex Song!

And the 22 year old right back – sidelined since the start of the season with injury – said: “I played with Alex for a couple of seasons and you don’t play that many times for Arsenal and get a move to Barcelona unless you are a top player.

“It is a real coup for the club to get him in.

“It shows the direction West Ham are going in if they can sign players of his calibre. The role he plays is very specific — a defensive midfielder who breaks up play. “But he is not just someone who puts tackles in and stops things.

“He can pick a pass as well. The last season before he left he got 15 or 16 assists which is impressive for a defensive midfielder.

“He hasn’t played for a long time and this is about him getting his fitness back. It may take time but he has more than got the quality.”

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce could also hand Enner Valencia a first Premier League start at Hull.

The Ecuador striker has struggled to get fit since joining from Mexican side Pachuca after a successful World Cup.

Big Sam said: “He’s ready to get the opportunity to go and play.

“It will be great once he gets out there and produces what he did at the World Cup.”