Pablo has undergone a bit of a West Ham United revival in recent weeks. The phrase ‘cult hero’ is starting to do the rounds too.

After all, what is a ‘cult hero’? Usually, it refers to a footballer who is adored by the fanbase despite a lack of technical quality.

TalkingPoints

How are you feeling about this match? Join us and follow this TalkingPoint as we welcome West Bromwich Albion.

Tomas Soucek of West Ham United celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's fifth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Lincoln City and West Ham United at the Gelder Group Sincil Bank Stadium in Lincoln, on October 14, 2026.

Pablo Felipe is a key part of West Ham United’s plans despite a lack of goals

The downside, of course, is that the £20 million signing from Gil Vicente has still only scored twice in 27 appearances. It took Pablo eight months to find the net. His first league goal came against Lincoln City in this month’s 6-0 away win, shortly after he opened his account versus Fulham in the Carabao Cup.

Gustavo Varela, the striker who for all intents and purposes replaced Pablo when he joined the Hammers in January, has not had the same problem.

On loan from Benfica, Varela became Gil Vicente’s first-choice centre-forward following that winter departure. Pablo scored ten times in 12 Primeira Liga matches in the first half of 2025/26. Varela was not quite so prolific; only six in 32 appearances for him.

That rather middling record only makes his stunning form in Serie A all the more surprising. Varela, having joined newly-promoted Monza for a tenth of the fee West Ham paid for Pablo, and is the greatest goalscorer in Italy right now. He’s got eight in eight for Ivan Juric’s side. Ten in nine across all competitions.

According to O Jogo, Varela will be rewarded with his first cap for a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal during the November international break.

Pablo, born in Braga but also eligible for Brazil, could hardly be further away from a spot in Jorge Jesus’ international set-up.

But if Varela can explode into one of the most prolific marksman in Europe’s top five leagues, the man who comfortably outscored him at Gil Vicente will be hoping he can follow in his old teammates footsteps.

Until then, Pablo might have to make do with ‘cult hero’ status. Still, it could be worse. Few expected the oft-maligned attacker to have any sort of backing among the West Ham fans once his goal drought extended into an eighth month.