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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

West Ham recall Armstrong Oko-Flex from Swansea City loan

West Ham have recalled Armstrong Oko-Flex from his season-long loan deal with Swansea City.

The versatile attacker joined Swansea late on in the summer transfer window but has been unable to nail down a starting place in Russell Martin's team.

Indeed, the 20-year-old's sole Championship start this season came against Wigan Athletic in November, a game in which he was withdrawn at half-time as the Swans came from two goals down to draw 2-2.

READ MORE: Swansea City transfer news as Brighton man linked, Russell Martin lays out January finances and striker leaves for good

In an update on Friday morning, Swansea said: "Armstrong Oko-Flex has been recalled from his loan spell at Swansea City by parent club West Ham United.

"The 21-year-old made 13 appearances for the Swans, 12 of them as a substitute, after initially joining on a season-long loan at the end of the summer transfer window.

"Everyone at Swansea City thanks Armstrong for his contribution during his brief time with the club, and wish him every success in his future career."

"Some people will look at some of the bits he did and will be wondering why he came off," Martin said of Oko-Flex after the clash with the Latics. "Armstrong will know the reason, that's the most important bit. He will learn from it and get better.

"We just need to keep trying to develop him the same as the other players because he's playing in a very different way at a different level to what he has been. He just needs to keep doing what he's asked and he'll be more than fine.

"When we have such clarity in what we want it can be quite frustrating sometimes when we don't get it. We've made a few changes to the team recently because of that.

"We just need to keep developing Armstrong's understanding of what we want from him, especially out of possession."

And the Hammers are now expected to cut the Dublin-born frontman's loan with Swansea short.

He will join Fin Stevens, Brandon Cooper and Jordon Garrick in moving on from Swansea this month. It will leave Matty Sorinola and Luke Cundle, currently in from Union SG and Wolves respectively, as the remaining loan players in Swansea's ranks.

Discussing Oko-Flex's situation following Monday's 2-1 defeat to Burnley, head coach Martin said: "Armstrong has an opinion, his agent does. We've been honest about his situation in terms of the minutes he might get if the people we want in are the ones that we get in.

"Everyone's honest. There's no problems at all. He's a great kid. If he ends up staying there's no problem, if he ends up going, we'll wish him the very best."

Oko-Flex featured off the bench in the 2-1 defeat at Reading after Christmas but was left out of the Swans' matchday squads for the matches against Watford and Burnley.

The attacker has already played for David Moyes' side in the Europa Conference League this term, meaning he will spend the remainder of the campaign with the Hammers.

He leaves south Wales having made 13 Championship appearances under Russell Martin.

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