Nuno Espirito Santo is expected to take the ‘if it ain’t broke’ approach when West Ham United host AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, with Mads Hermansen likely to keep his place ahead of Alphonse Areola.
The decision to bring the Dane back into Premier League contention, after five months on the bench, was not one Nuno took lightly.
Alphonse Areola had committed a couple of blunders, yes – the France international gifted Brighton an equaliser before clattering into Morgan Gibbs-White for that late penalty against Nottingham Forest – but it was not as if there was a noisy throng of critics demanding he be removed from the firing line.
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West Ham v Bournemouth potential XI
In fact, despite keeping West Ham United’s first clean sheet since August in that 2-0 win at Burnley, many wanted Areola re-called in place of Hermansen for that 1-1 draw with Manchester United a week ago.
As the Hammers allowed supporters a peek behind the curtain into the goings on at Rush Green, Hermansen and Areola could be spotted being put through their paces together on the training pitch. Eagle-eyed viewers may also have spotted young Tom Wooster, called up to first-team training having started four of their last five Under-21 matches in Premier League 2.
As captain Jarrod Bowen would no doubt admit, while Hermansen and Areola engage in some healthy competition for a starting berth, 20-year-old Wooster is one to keep an eye on in the long-term.
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Tom Wooster stars to deny West Ham United skipper Jarrod Bowen
Tom Wooster training before Manchester United v Athletic Club Bilbao, pre season friendly match, Dublin.
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
Bowen found himself one-v-one with young Wooster during a shooting drill as West Ham stepped up their preparations for the visit of Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.
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Now, on the training pitch, Bowen must have scored thousands of goals like this. Bearing down and curling a shot into the far corner with his favoured left foot. It is, after all, his trademark finisher move.
The skipper would let out a yell of frustration, though, as a diving Wooster brilliantly tipped his shot past the post. As for youngster Wooster, a cheeky smile and a thumbs up.
Formerly of Manchester United and a one-time Barnsley Academy Player of the Year, Sheffield-born Wooster joined West Ham in September following a brief trial period, alongside another promising glovesman in ex-Newcastle prospect Reece Byrne.
Wooster has been sharing Under-21 duties with the extremely highly-rated Finlay Herrick in recent times. He has been the first-choice in Premier League 2 of late, while Herrick saved a crucial penalty against Tamworth as Greg Lincoln’s reserves reached the National League Cup final this week.
Herrick is a regular fixture in first-team training these days. It was interesting to see Wooster getting the chance to impress against the likes of Bowen and co now too.
Wooster, Finlay Herrick and Mason Terry set for an interesting battle
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West Ham United's Mason Terry during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Dagenham & Redbridge and West Ham United at Chigwell Construction Stadium on July 20, 2024 in Dagenham, England.
Should West Ham opt to move on Areola this summer – his contract is due to expire in 2027 – their goalkeeping pecking order will make for intriguing viewing. Herrick has been considered by some to be a future number one.
Wooster, though, is clearly making a good impression himself.
And then there is Mason Terry.
On loan in the National League, Terry produced a perfect ’10/10′ display to save Braintree against Solihull Moors at the weekend. He even scored a goal in a cup clash with Truro City.
“Mason made two or three great saves, which he tends to do most games, to be fair,” manager Steve Pitt said, delighted to retain Terry after a move to an unnamed League Two side fell through in the winter transfer window.
“I’ve just said to him in [the dressing room] there, I expect him to make those saves. But nevertheless, they are quality saves. You can see why the lad has all the attributes and why he should have moved on in the [transfer] window.”
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