Adama Traore and his baby oil can help West Ham give Chelsea and relegation the slip, according to Nuno Espirito Santo. And the Portuguese boss joked he is ready to order extra oil for Jarrod Bowen and Crysensio Summerville to help them slide past defenders.

The former Barcelona winger has joined West Ham from Fulham this week and is set to make his debut at Chelsea on Saturday. Espirito Santo bought Traore for Wolves for £18m in 2018 - and saw up close his pre-match routine his habit of applying baby oil to his arms before matches. 

The ritual started to protect his shoulder after he dislocated it four times. But it also stops defenders getting to grips with him as one of the fastest players in the Premier League really is greased lightning.

And 18th-placed West Ham now need him to strike in the final 15 matches of the season without the departed Lucas Paqueta.

• Nuno Espirito Santo makes transfer admission after West Ham accept bid for Lucas Paqueta

• Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer latest as Oliver Glasner confirms star is OUT of next game

Espirito Santo said: “He does it to stop people from holding him. It makes sense, it makes sense. I think it came from an injury that he had, someone who held him really bad. Someone pushed him and pulled him really hard and dislocated his shoulder. I’m not quite sure, but I think it came from a physio, and it made a lot of sense.”

West Ham have won their last two Premier League games but are still five points from safety. Asked if the East London club will be ordering more baby oil for Traore, the Irons manager smiled: “Yeah, if that stops people from holding, maybe we have to give some to Jarrod and to Crysencio!”

Traore, 30, made just two Premier League starts for Fulham this season and will add a need X factor after the departure of playmaker Paqueta.

“I’ve worked with him for many years, and I know him well,” Espirito Santo said. “He’s unique - there aren’t many players with his ability one-on-one, or with his pace.

“I think he’s going to give us many things that we need. He possesses great threat, and he has great energy, not only on the pitch, but in the dressing room and at the training ground too. He’s a special person to have around. Adama is one more of us that can bring what we want. We need good performance, we need results and Adama is here to help.”

Espirito Santo also hopes Traore - the fourth signing of the January window - will help free up his fellow forwards, especially Bowen. The England striker is trying to earn a place in the World Cup squad as well as avoid relegation. “The work that he's putting in every minute of the game is extraordinary,” said the West Ham manager. “We are aware that he has his personal objective, to go to the World Cup, which I think should and must happen because he's a fantastic player. I think Thomas cannot afford not to have him around.”