Austria Klagenfurt midfielder Andy Irving is moving to West Ham United this summer with a spring in his step after finally breaking a bit of a duck.
Kleine Zeitung Kaernten cover the player today after he bagged a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over RB Salzburg, after already bagging a goal and an assist in the previous game against them.
The two sides have just faced each other back-to-back, with Salzburg winning the first game at home 4-2 before being defeated 4-3 away from home three days later.
Irving was the undisputed star of the double-header, bagging a goal and an assist in the first game before a hat-trick in the win in the second.
That’s seen him labelled as ‘Mr Hat-trick’ and he’s certainly enjoyed his best form against Salzburg this season, scoring five of his 13 Bundesliga goals and becoming the first player since 2013/14 to score four goals in one season against Salzburg.
His performances in the game were a healthy return to form for the 23-year-old, who went 11 games without a goal or an assist after assisting in the 2-2 draw with Salzburg in October.
That had seen his move to West Ham criticised, with it claimed by different people that it had clearly affected him and led to problems.
Manager Peter Pacult is more than happy with him, though, and insists he never dropped the West Ham bound midfielder.
“Better late than not at all,” he said.
“Things blocked him, and certain situations put a strain on him. Then it happened that he was no longer a goal threat. This is how you become insecure. I’m glad that the knot was broken, for him and for the team.
“I never dropped him. He didn’t have the minutes he had before, but that was due to his form.”
