We have seen this campaign that despite a sensational start to the season, the lack of squad depth has been costly in many matches for West Ham United. In the meantime, the Academy has been producing some excellent unsung young talent that are perhaps worthy of a place in the first team. The Development Squad have come out on top in victories over both Chelsea and Manchester City, so here are my three youngsters who I think are ready for the big time:
1) Moses Makasi
The 20-year-old Englishman has been making prolific progress for the U21s. Joining West Ham as a youngster, he has featured for every single youth side and is ready for a call-up to Sam Allardyce’s first team frame. He plays in a central defensive midfield role, and is not afraid to get stuck into a tackle, even if it means being cautioned and taking a hit for the team. With Alex Song unlikely to be signing on a permanent deal, Makasi is a more than adequate replacement ready to fill his boots. He signed professionally for us in the summer of 2014 and it should only be a matter of time before we see him featuring at Upton Park.
2) Lewis Page
Another player who has made his way up the youth side ranks since being a teenager, Page is a player who is pregnant with potential. The 19-year-old is a left-back who loves to get forward, as shown by his three assists for the Englishman this season in the Development Squad. Page would make a viable back-up option to Aaron Cresswell as Joey O’Brien ages and looks set to leave the club. Not only is he attacking minded, but he also possess a cracking left foot that can put a pacey swinging ball into the box from both set pieces and open play. He signed a professional contact with us in February and is capable enough for the main outfit.
3) Reece Oxford
The final piece of the puzzle is this very young Englishman. At just 16 years of age, Oxford is a solid centre-back with the potential to be a superstar. Having already made his debut for the England U17s, this shows that Oxford could well be a household name at not just club level, but at international level too. An all-rounder, Oxford has a lot of composure about him, with the ability to bring the ball out calmly from the defence and set it away for the team to attack. James Collins has lost that bit of pace about him, and this young defender has that extra yard of agility that would make him a worthy back-up to fellow Hammers Winston Reid and James Tomkins.
In addition, the debut of Reece Burke in the back-four in the latter stages of the Premier League season shows that people are indeed ready to step up. Conceding just one goal in three starts, it is proof that the Academy should be treated with more faith than it perhaps currently is. With bags of young talent bursting through the roof at Rush Green, it is only a matter of time before we should be seeing these players at the Boleyn Ground.
