How on earth do you pick a Man of the Match on a night like this? West Ham United racking up six goals without reply at Lincoln City, with five different goalscorers.

The Hammers wrapped up their biggest away win since 1923 at Sincil Bank. One month after Nuno Espirito Santo’s side turned in a six-star showing against Wrexham, the nine-men of Lincoln City would suffer the same fate.

Edvin Austbo then doubled the lead moments after coming on as a half-time substitute, before Jarrod Bowen, Pablo and Tomas Soucek got on the act with a late brace.

Edvin Austbo was West Ham United’s stand-out on a fine night in Lincoln

It was the introduction of Austbo which lit a belated fuse under West Ham United side who went from rank to rampant in Lincolnshire. Cutting inside from the left-hand side, the Norway Under-21 international curled a phenomenal strike off the underside of the bar with his first involvement to double the advantage.

And, five weeks after Austbo provided a goal and an assist off the bench against Derby, he would repeat the trick. It was his corner from which Pablo flicked in his first league goal in English football at the 20th attempt.

“[Austbo’s goal] is a devastating finish,” former Everton and Manchester City left-back Andy Hinchcliffe raved before handing the winger Sky Sports’ Man of the Match award on a night of many candidates.

“When you’ve got individuals with this type of attacking quality, it’s very, very hard to keep them out. It’s got the whip, the dip, the accuracy, the power- it’s unsaveable. A stunning strike!

“Austbo and Bowen, just too good. Absolutely outstanding. He scored a goal of pure individual brilliance, and he whipped the ball in for Pablo to score. He’s had a huge impact, and you can see why Nuno brought him on.”

This was just the latest in a growing collection of electrifying cameos. The Derby County one was the moment when he really arrived as a West Ham player, but Austbo also helped turn the tide in comeback draws against Millwall and QPR either side of the international break.

“His subs at half-time were great,” former Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth said in the Sky studio. “The boy Austbo, he was the spark. He was the ball carrier.

“You had Bowen on one side, him on the other side – that’s tough to defend at any level. I’m glad he picked up the Man of the Match [award] because that goal was sensational.”