Mohammed Kudus hails Lucas Paqueta and West Ham analysts for key role in brace vs Wolves

Mohammed Kudus hailed his blossoming partnership with Lucas Paqueta - and West Ham’s analysts - after his latest star showing against Wolves on Sunday.

Kudus scored twice before half-time to set the Hammers on their way to a 3-0 victory at the London Stadium and take his tally to nine goals in all competitions since arriving from Ajax this summer.

Both goals came in similar fashion, with the Ghanaian released on the counter-attack by Paqueta, who also laid on Jarrod Bowen’s clincher after the break.

“You know the vision Lucas has with those kind of passes,” Kudus said. “As soon as we win the ball and it’s him, I just get running!

“I know the ball will come. I was just one-vs-one against the keeper and I did my thing.”

Kudus’s opening goal saw him catch Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley out at his near-post, the winger shuffling inside onto his left foot and shaping to shoot towards the far corner, only to drag his shot into the opposite side of the goal.

Speaking to the club’s website at full-time, the 23-year-old revealed the move had been a deliberate ploy.

“Normally when you come in with your left foot, the keeper is looking at the other corner, so I went for the near corner,” he explained. “It went in, it was a good goal and I’m happy.

“Before the game I had the information from the technical team that when I come inside, I should shoot for the near corner because he’s more expecting the balls on the other corner.

“It was in the back of my head, so when [the chance came] it was a natural flow.”