Few would argue that the £7 million signing of Luzasz Fabianski from Swansea was a total steal in the summer.

Such has been his impact on the club this season that he is probably leading the race to become Hammer of the Year maybe eclipsing the performances of Declan Rice.

Indeed in a recent ClaretandHugh poll the Polish international led the rest by around 50 percentage points  and it would come as a surprise if he weren’t to follow his award as Swansea’s best player last season with another at ours.

It’s been a lot of years since we had a goalkeeper of this sort of quality and it comes as no surprise to hear the manager singing his praises from the rooftops.

The 33 year old signed a deal in the summer which keeps him at the London Stadium until 2021 and in his current form is possibly the outstanding stopper in the league.

And manager Pellegrini  was in no mood to hold back when discussing him with reporters.

He said: “Without comparing with other goalkeepers I think Lukasz has so far had a brilliant season and hopefully he will finish the season in the same way.

He had some options years ago at Arsenal, I don;t know why he couldn’t play too much but I think he’s one of the players this season, one of the best goalkeepers in the league. He’s a perfect professional in every sense.

He’s always listening to his coach, he’s always working hard, he has no problem if he doesn’t play, so he’s a brilliant professional.”