Daniel Cummings arrived at West Ham United from Celtic last summer with a truly prolific record in youth football. Pedigree he is now starting to show on the Premier League 2 stage.
Finding the net again during Saturday’s 3-2 reserve team defeat by local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the Scotland Under-19 international has been in terrific form since recovering from a shoulder injury which ruined his first few months south of the border.
Cummings only made his first Hammers start in December. It took until mid-January for him to open his West Ham United account with a strike against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Youth League.
Wembley awaits the winner!
What is your favourite FA Cup moment of 2026 so far? 🏆
Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the match during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between West Ham United and Brentford on March 9, 2026 in London, England.
That was the first of five goals he has scored in the last three months, despite only starting four games in that run.
It is fair to say Daniel Cummings, then, is making up for lost time.
Daniel Cummings can’t save West Ham United from Tottenham defeat
Ten minutes after Josh Ajala had cancelled out Tottenham’s first-half opener, one in-form forward set up another. Ajala darted past his marker on the left-hand side and drilled his cross into the box. Cummings controlled it neatly and fired home from close range.
After racking up 39 goals in 62 matches for Celtic B, Cummings now has three in Premier League 2.
Daniel Cummings during AFC Wimbledon v West Ham United U21 - Vertu Trophy
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Tottenham would turn the deficit around in the space of eight second-half minutes, however. A defeat on the final round of league fixtures means Greg Lincoln’s Hammers have lost the opportunity to secure home advantage when the knockout stages kick off.
“We created some really good opportunities in the final third, turned the ball over well, and were really effective pressing high,” Lincoln tells the official West Ham website. “We had some really good situations but just lacked that final bit today, whether it was decision making, execution of the final pass, the action, shot or the cross.
“There are a lot of positives to take, as always. We work with the development squad, and every game we take, we’re trying to take the learnings from it, and ultimately, that’s what it’s about.
“It shows you that whatever level of football you play, it comes down to the penalty boxes and the penalty box actions. We’ll endeavour to continue to improve in and around those areas.
“We’ll work hard on the training pitch, and we’ll try and action that learning into action ultimately in the knockout stages.”
Sporting director Mark Noble was full of praise for Daniel Cummings when the Hammers secured his services on a free transfer last summer. On a disappointing afternoon for the reserves, Cummings and Ajala were once again bright sparks.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox