Considering that Joel Veltman has only been a West Ham United player for a couple of months, it is maybe a little early to start asking him to rattle off his favourite moments in claret and blue.

Still, eleven weeks and eleven games into his London Stadium career, the former Ajax, Brighton and Hove Albion and Netherlands defender already has a few fond memories.

He will hope to keep his place in the XI – and make a third successive Championship start – when West Ham United host Southampton this Saturday.

Joel Veltman is really enjoying his first few months at West Ham United

Somewhere in the home crowd, meanwhile, could be a young Hammers fanatic who already knows every member of Nuno’s squad by heart.

“Here at West Ham, just outside the gates at Rush Green, I met a couple with a son,” Veltman told the club’s official website this week. “The son must’ve only been about three or four years old, but he knew every single West Ham player! He also had a temporary tattoo of a ghost, and I remember talking to him about that.

“When I got home, my wife told me the mum had been in touch with her and messaged me as well, to say thank you. For me, it was really easy just to have that little chat, but for him it was massive, and it makes you realise how important it is to give that short bit of time.”

An extremely competitive but evidently likeable character, Veltman clearly ‘gets it’. That became obvious during his official unveiling, hailing the tradition and the ‘incredible’ community spirit of his new club as the London Stadium sparkled behind him in the August sunshine.

“I love getting involved with Foundation work,” he adds, Veltman a favourite of the coaches, the fans and countless teammates at Brighton. “It’s something I did a lot at Ajax and Brighton and Hove Albion, and it’s something I’m keen to get more involved in here at West Ham.

“As footballers I think there’s always more we can do to give back to the local community, and it’s something I’m really passionate about.”

As for his favourite moment on the pitch? “My debut, against Portsmouth [a 3-1 win] in the first round of the Carabao Cup in August,” Veltman says.

“I got lots of messages of support on the day, and I was really proud to put the shirt on and walk on to the pitch as a West Ham player. One of my biggest memories is noticing how loud and passionate the fans were, and of course it was great to get the win as well.”