The realisation has dawned that West Ham United are – unofficially just at present – entering their post-Paquetá era. The Brazilian midfielder who has been such a focus of controversy, ire and adulation in equal measure, looks like he has played his last game in claret and blue.

And if today is anything to go by, the signs are that West Ham will miss their Brazilian ‘Magnifico’ not one jot.

From the manner in which the heir apparent Mateus Fernandes swept all before him this afternoon, West Ham have a Paquetá successor worthy of taking  the ‘magnifico’ mantle after the Irons’ battered and bruised young midfielder excelled against the Black Cats.

If you didn’t see the full match it might not be apparent that Sunderland kicked lumps out of the Portuguese youngster – countless times he had to pick himself up and carry on. None of the Paqueta histrionics , equally none of the irritating losses of possession or slow-downs of passages of play. Although still just 21, Fernandez was cadjoling and berating his own defenders to push up and looking every inch a future leader.

Fitting replacement for Paquetá is already emerging

West Ham’s number...