David Moyes says the gamble to start Jarrod Bowen paid off after the West Ham winger scored the winner on his return from injury.
Bowen had been missing since early March after limping off at Liverpool with an ankle injury.
It was touch and go whether either Bowen or Manuel Lanzini, who had been expected to feature until further checks after being involved a car crash on Thursday, would be involved today.
Moyes took the gamble to start Bowen despite the prospect of him damaging his ankle ahead of the visit of Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday.
The West Ham boss took a late call to start the 25-year-old, who claimed three points to move the Hammers back into the top six, finishing well after Jordan Pickford had parried a Michail Antonio shot into his path.
“It was only until yesterday when I knew Lanzini wasn’t going to make it [that we made a call on Bowen],” said Moyes.
“I thought with [not having] Lanzini’s quality on the ball do we start Jarrod for 50-60 minutes or bring him on for 30?
“I don’t think he’s quite all there yet. It is not his fitness, just his game, and he was a bit worried about it.
“We chose to start him and it worked out well thank you.”
Moyes added: “I have never really been that worried about Jarrod.
“He said he didn’t know if he would be sharp enough but he’s got such high standards now.
“He could have been called up for England, we don’t know, and he was unfortunate to come off at Liverpool which gave him a half-chance of being selected.
“If he finishes the season well then he will be back in contention for June.”
