Not many would have backed George McCartney to be holding onto his place in the Hammers team under pressure from loan signing  Colombian international Pablo Armero.

But the journeyman defender has stepped up to the mark since returning from injury and is keeping teh Colombian international waiting!

And that’s not something the ultra-quick left back is used to  but is having to accept his will have to wait given McCartney’s form.

A training ground source claims he has been working his socks off to impress on the training ground and is enjoying the competition for places.

He said: “Pablo is a great lad who has settled in very quickly. He can’t wait to get involved but George is doing well in a winning team so he will have to wait.

“He really is very quick and will cause plenty of problems when he breaks through but it’s not a coincidence that our form has picked up since the loanees arrived and started putting the pressure on those players in possession.”