For many West Ham Academy players, bridging the gap between under 21’s football and regular first team Premier League appearances proves a huge step to take. A few- such as Freddie Potts, Ollie Scarles, Ezra Mayers and Mohamadou Kanté – appear to have made the leap and are already successfully building futures in the first team squad.
For others, loans are the answer to try and bridge the gap: Callum Marshall in Bundesliga 2 and George Earthy at Championship side Bristol City this season are meeting with mixed results. Earthy in particular has struggled with repeat ankle injuries and cannot hold down a starting place in the second tier side.
Many had predicted that with his contract due for expiry this summer, the hugely likeable attacking midfielder might be cut loose.
George Earthy training at West Ham
Still struggling but with a years’ extension the future could still go either way for George Earthy
However it seems the Hammers have taken a long term view with Earthy: As insider exWHUEmployee confirmed on the westhamway.com, Earthy’s stay at West Ham has received something of a boost:
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“…Earthy had secured an extension to his Hammers deal when he moved back to Bristol City…. So the reports that Earthy will be a free agent this summer are not true. However, that does not necessarily mean that the player will remain a West Ham player”.
Which seems pretty shrewd from West Ham: Allowing Earthy to get fully fit before deciding on his future offers the midfielder the chance to blossom this season or next, knowing that he is still a Hammer. Balanced on a knife edge, his career could still ignite or be extinguished by recurring injuries.
At least nobody can say that West Ham aren’t giving him every chance to shine, even if only to come through and succeed at Bristol City and boost his value as a saleable asset this summer.