Ones To Watch...
Josh Briggs has excelled since stepping up to the U21s, and he capped off last month by being nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award.
It comes after a colossal February at the back for Robson’s side, in which we played four and won four, conceding a single goal.
A centre-back by trade, Briggs played the full 90 minutes at right-back in each fixture against Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Reading and Derby County as the young Hammers enjoyed a perfect month.
Spearheading the West Ham attack is Josh Ajala, who has been instrumental with six goals in 14 league games this season. Notably, Ajala scored twice for the U18s against Derby County on Wednesday as Lauris Coggin's side booked their spot in the Club's first-ever U18 Premier League Cup final.
Also vital to the midweek victory was Ezra Mayers, who has already amassed 28 appearances for the U21s and U18s this season, while he was named in a senior matchday squad for the first time against Arsenal in November, marking a significant milestone in his burgeoning career.
For Liverpool, Ranel Young, who can play on the flanks or as a central striker, has enjoyed a successful season having stepped up to Lewtas’ U21s squad, scoring four times in Premier League 2 so far.
Young also started all three UEFA Youth League fixtures for the U19s in 2024/25 and netted the opening goal in a 2-1 win over Bologna in October, while he was named on the bench by Arne Slot for Liverpool's Carabao Cup tie at Brighton & Hove Albion in October and Emirates FA Cup visit to Plymouth Argyle in February.
Elsewhere, Isaac Mabaya made his senior bow in the aforementioned FA Cup tie at Home Park against Plymouth, having already been included in Slot’s UEFA Champions League squad at PSV Eindhoven in January.
The 20-year-old has made eight appearances in PL2 this season, including playing the full 90 minutes in last weekend’s home defeat to Middlesbrough.
How Things Stand In Premier League 2...
With four regular season games left, West Ham United U21s are all but assured a spot in the post-season as one of the first 16 teams. Aiming for a top seeding, the young Hammers are six points clear of Southampton in fourth, having played a game fewer.
Pos Team P W D L GD Pts
1 Manchester City 17 14 1 2 35 43
2 Fulham 17 12 2 3 16 38
3 West Ham United 16 12 0 4 10 36
4 Southampton 17 9 3 5 5 30
5 Chelsea 17 9 2 6 14 29
6 Crystal Palace 17 8 5 4 7 29
7 Brighton & Hove Albion 17 7 6 4 20 27
8 Leicester City 17 8 3 6 10 27
9 Manchester United 15 9 0 6 7 27
10 Arsenal 16 8 2 6 3 26
11 Liverpool 16 7 3 6 -1 24
12 Wolverhampton Wanderers 16 7 3 6 -2 24
13 Sunderland 16 7 2 7 11 23
14 Leeds United 16 6 5 5 0 23
15 Everton 16 6 5 5 -2 23
16 Newcastle United 16 7 2 7 -3 23
17 Nottingham Forest 16 7 1 8 3 22
18 West Bromwich Albion 15 6 3 6 -4 21
19 Reading 16 5 3 8 -11 18
20 Blackburn Rovers 16 5 2 9 -10 17
21 Derby County 17 5 2 10 -14 17
22 Norwich City 16 4 3 9 -13 15
23 Tottenham Hotspur 17 4 1 12 -16 13
24 Middlesbrough 15 4 0 11 -18 12
25 Aston Villa 16 2 3 11 -22 9
26 Stoke City 16 1 2 13 -25 5