Graham Potter spoke at one press conference about West Ham needing – but not having a ‘silver bullet’ after the defeat against Sunderland. One would suggest he meant a [‘_magic bullet’_](https://www.claretandhugh.info/graham-potter-preparing-hammers-fans-for-bad-transfer-news/) in the manner of a hitherto undiscovered solution, one player who was going to turn the tide and convert all his troubles into blue skies in some Roy of the Rovers-style fairytale ending.
**Callum** **Marshall** has been put forward by many who saw the youngster in pre-season as being that very magic bullet. Fast, ever ready to run and with some great positional awareness, supporters who’d seen the dearth of striker options, with Fullkrug injured, had suggested Marshall was the answer.
Waiting like a claret and blue Michael Owen, ready in the wings to launch his career and be the striker West Ham desperately need.
From his limited cameos on the international stage it would seem that the young man is no such ‘magic bullet’. Hardworking, yes. Ready to run his legs off, yes. But from the 20-odd minutes Marshall played as a substitute for Northern Ireland last night it is clear that he’s not the finished article yet nor is it fair to load the young man’s shoulders with unrealistic expectation.
Promoting him as the goal scoring solution to West Ham’s self inflicted striker shortage will only end in disappointment for both supporters and probably to the detriment of the young man’s career. Clearly the 20 year old has talent but he still requires nurturing and time to learn his craft.
He’ll get his chance, surely. But he needs patience and tolerance whilst he finds his way, not chucking in at the deep end in some ‘sink or swim’ experiment. West Ham need to find another solution from the free market, or within, to allow Marshall the space to develop.
From Graham Potter’s reluctance to name Marshall as a substitute, however, it seems he’s not so far had the opportunity. Likely that’ll change this season.