Two years on from that FA Youth Cup triumph, a handful of West Ham United’s most promising youngsters are approaching something of a crossroads in their young careers.
Because, while Graham Potter has told George Earthy he will get his chance to impress in pre-season, the immediate future is less certain for the likes of Gideon Kodua, Mason Terry, Patrick Kelly and Callum Marshall.
All of the aforementioned claret and blue quintet return to the London Stadium after stellar loan spells.
Earthy was named Bristol City’s Young Player of the Year. Former youth team captain Kodua helped Wycombe Wanderers reach the League One play-offs. Mason Terry kept 17 clean sheets at Hornchurch, before the goalkeeper was chosen to captain West Ham at this year’s Hong Kong Soccer Sevens.
Callum Marshall earned himself fan favourite status at Huddersfield Town, meanwhile, as he picked up an award of his own. The eight-time Northern Ireland international went one better than Earthy, securing Huddersfield’s Player of the Year gong while finishing the campaign as their second highest goalscorer with ten.
Now, Marshall does not appear ready yet for a first-team role under Graham Potter. A return to academy football – Marshall scored in that Youth Cup thrashing of Arsenal back in 2023 – would also represent a massive step in the wrong direction for his development.
As such, another loan spell away from West Ham United may be the most sensible option. And, a bright spark in a dark Huddersfield campaign, Marshall is unlikely to be short of suitors.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Callum Marshall could join Wycombe in latest West Ham United loan
The Bucks Free Press report that Wycombe – perhaps inspired by the impact of Kodua at Adams Park or Marshall’s impressive form elsewhere in League One – are keen to strike a deal for another of West Ham’s rising stars.
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There is space at Wycombe for a new striker. Bez Lubala is leaving as a free agent. The much-admired Richard Kone could depart too after Mike Dodds’ team suffered play-off heartbreak at the hands of Charlton Athletic.
Kone, scorer of 21 goals in an outstanding breakout campaign, was already the subject of four bids from Luton Town in January.
The versatile Marshall was not quite so prolific. However, at the age of just 20 and in a more functional, settled outfit, there is no reason why he could not continue to develop the penalty box talents he honed with Huddersfield.
Marshall spelled out West Ham ambitions under Graham Potter
Still, Marshall has ambitions of representing West Ham at senior level in the near future.
As things stand, Niclas Fullkrug will be Graham Potter’s only centre-forward when July rolls around with the deals of Michail Antonio, Danny Ings and Evan Ferguson all expiring.
“I just want to use this loan spell to push on for when I go back to West Ham this summer,” Marshall said in the spring. “There’s a new manager, and hopefully he’ll get a good look at me and see what he thinks.”
“Everything is up for grabs so it’s about me going back and making a good impression. There are opportunities for young players at the club now. West Ham have a good record at bringing youngsters through. When I go back, hopefully I can make more appearances.”
Marshall has plenty of time on his side, however. And an even-more successful stint in the Football League would potentially make his progress impossible to ignore later down the line.