Why West Ham have a new option in Jethro Medine as Nuno Espirito Santo makes decision

West Ham are not shying away from using youth with Jethro Medine the latest to link up with the Hammers' squad.

Nuno Espirito Santo has been handed out plenty of minutes to Academy of Football graduates this season.

Airidas Golambeckis, Lewis Orford, Joshua Ajala, Finlay Herrick, Ollie Scarles and Ezra Mayers have all featured in matchday squads this season.

The Irons have quite the strong squad for the Championship, and while currently sat in second place, it is a good environment to foster talent.

While those aforementioned names have been among the youth handed an opportunity, another has been handed out amid the international break.

As news of Jethro Medine's involvement in the West Ham senior squad has been emerging.

What decision has Nuno Espirito Santo made on Jethro Medine

West Ham have quite a few players away on international duty, but for those back at Rush Green, training is continuing as domestic football awaits its return.

With players such as Konstantinos Mavropanos called up for his senior national team, and others like Mayers and Golambeckis with England's under-20s, Nuno is short of a few defensive options in training.

So, as reported by Claret and Hugh, 19-year-old Medine has been called upon to shore up the numbers.

Whether this is only a temporary decision by Nuno amid the fewer defensive options, or a sign to Medine's current standing, remains to be seen.

The West Ham outlet states that the right-back has been "causing waves in academy football" alongside his brother Jepthah Medine, with "high hopes" for the duo.

Either way, there has been a clear focus on opportunities for the younger crop of players, and Medine's involvement is the latest proof of that.

How has Medine been playing in West Ham's academy?

As a right-back by trade, Medine could offer the Hammers a trait they have lacked following the sale of El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The Senegalese fullback provided an attacking threat that the current crop of fullbacks in E20 are unable to replicate.

However, Medine has had an impressive output this season for the West Ham youth squads, scoring once and providing four assists in just eight games.

With Nuno now getting a closer look at the Englishman, it may not be long until he makes his berth in the senior team.