Freddie Potts is an established Premier League starter these days, Callum Marshall has some minutes in the bank too, but when will George Earthy’s chance come at West Ham United?
If reports which emerged on Friday are true, a chance may not be forthcoming any time soon.
England Under-21 international Earthy made a thrilling return to West Ham United action in October.
Earthy was ‘outstanding’ against Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy, in the words of Under-21 coach Greg Lincoln. A goal and an assist on his homecoming. Unsurprisingly, after the West Ham starlet won Bristol City’s Young Player of the Year award during a loan spell at Ashton Gate, the velvet-toed 21-year-old looked a cut above against fourth-tier opposition.
Back in September, following a hamstring injury which consigned him to another spell on the sidelines, Nuno indicated that Earthy would be part of his plans once he returned to fitness. The head coach is taking a real interest in securing a bright future for the club’s next generation.
Earthy, alongside Potts, Marshall, Mohamadou Kante, Preston Fearon, Ezra Mayers and Airidas Golambeckis, make up an exciting crop of young talent in East London.
Yet, according to The Standard, a first Premier League appearance since March 2024 for George Earthy will have to wait.
George Earthy celebrates during West Ham United v Luton Town - Premier League
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Nuno Espirito Santo is wary of rushing back West Ham United’s George Earthy
Before the hamstring issue which consigned him to another few weeks on the sidelines, Earthy missed the whole of pre-season with an ankle ligament issue.
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Lucas Paqueta is suspended for the Bournemouth trip after the November international break. Earthy, perhaps the West Ham player most similar in style to the elegant Brazilian, will not be rushed back before he is completely ready, though.
The Standard say that Nuno is ‘not prepared to risk’ another injury set-back. While he is training regularly alongside Jarrod Bowen, Paqueta and co at Rush Green, Earthy is expected to keep building up his match sharpness with Lincoln’s Under-21 side for the foreseeable future.
“Our boys will have seen what that next level looks like with George Earthy,” Lincoln, who has stepped into the Under-21 head coach role following Mark Robson’s promotion, told the official West Ham website after that Swindon victory.
“He’s been out on loan and played the first half for us, and he was outstanding. The way that he led the team through his actions was excellent.”
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Nuno handed Callum Marshall a Premier League debut away to Arsenal a month ago. And though the manager is keen to keep a lid on expectations surrounding young Potts, the 22-year-old already appears verging on the undroppable following two top-flight wins in his first two top-flight starts against Newcastle and Burnley.
Nuno called up Airidas Golambeckis, the club’s Under-21 captain, last week too. Kante, Mayers and goalkeeper Finlay Herrick were also given the chance to prove themselves alongside the seniors on the training pitch.
The Standard also add that Earthy remains a key part of Nuno’s future plans, even if he will have to remain patient behind the scenes.
“The [young] lads are so important for us,” Nuno said shortly after taking charge. “They bring this energy.
“So, we hope George will recover soon.
“We have to compete, this is the main message that has been passed to me, that we need to compete. To be strong, to be aggressive, to be brave.
“They say [bringing through young players is] the ‘West Ham way’. Let’s try.”