- Edimilson Fernandes looking forward to facing Switzerland teammate Xherdan Shaqiri on Saturday
- Attacking midfielder Shaqiri is star of Swiss national side with 60 caps and 18 goals for his country
- Fernandes impressed in right wing-back role in West Ham United's goalless draw with Everton
For the past eight years, Xherdan Shaqiri has been the undoubted star of the Switzerland national team.
The ‘Alpine Messi’ has developed a reputation for outstanding technical ability, superb set-piece skills and an unrivalled passion for the game – qualities that have earned him five straight league titles with FC Basel and Bayern Munich, the 2013 UEFA Champions League, 60 international caps and, in 2015, a £12m move to Stoke City.
Shaqiri has continued to shine in the Potteries and for his country, for whom he has appeared at three major tournaments and become a hero to West Ham United’s young Swiss international Edimilson Fernandes.
On Saturday, national team training aside, Fernandes and Shaqiri could share a pitch for the first time when the Hammers travel to take on the Potters in the Premier League – and the 21-year-old is relishing the prospect.
It's pretty clear that Xherdan is the star of the Swiss team at this time. He's technically talented and is a good attacking player
Edimilson Fernandes
"It's pretty clear that Xherdan is the star of the Swiss team at this time. He's technically talented and is a good attacking player. He's a good person but, as you've seen in certain moments, he can be very passionate.
"His game is all about speed, so we need to make sure we mark him closely and be aggressive when defending him. Stoke is a good team with good players and we need to perform well when we head up there."
Fernandes himself also needs to perform well continue his own development, having impressed in an unaccustomed right wing-back role in last weekend’s goalless draw with Everton.
The No31 has appeared in 24 of West Ham’s 34 Premier League matches, with 19 of those appearances coming from the substitutes’ bench, but manager Slaven Bilic has indicated that the young Swiss will have a bigger role to play next season.
Whether that is at wing-back or in his preferred role in central midfield remains to be seen but, wherever he plays, Fernandes is determined to give his all in Claret and Blue.
"Slaven has told me he thinks I will be playing more next year,” confirmed the former FC Sion star. “All I can do to achieve that is to keep working hard and hope that it pays off.
"I like playing in that position but, to be honest, my preferred position is central midfield, number eight. If I'm wide on the right, it's not a big deal.”