By Peter Lynch

17th Mar, 2023 | 10:10am

Simon Stone raves about 'brilliant' moment from West Ham youngster Divin Mubama v AEK Larnaca

West Ham youngster Divin Mubama will be feeling “brilliant” after scoring his first goal for the club, according to BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone.

The 18-year-old netted just 11 minutes after entering the fray in the Europa Conference League victory at home to AEK Larnaca on Thursday (16 March).

It was a first senior goal for the teenager who has been with West Ham for a decade, having been brought up in nearby Newham. The Hammers ran out 4-0 winners on the night and 6-0 winners on aggregate.

“Divin Mubama was brought up in Newham,” Stone reported live on BBC Sport. “He joined West Ham when he was eight. He has supported the club all his life.

“How brilliant must be he feeling just now.”

Moment of magic

It would have been an unforgettable moment for lifelong West Ham fan Mubama to step onto the pitch at the London Stadium under the lights in European competition, but the striker took his joy to a whole new level with the goal.

Moreover, the 18-year-old showed great confidence and composure with his back-heel finish. Such traits perhaps come from the fact he has scored 11 goals from his last nine matches in the Premier League 2.

The young striker now has 22 goals from his 29 appearances in all competitions this season, but his latest will undoubtedly be his most memorable for quite some time.

But it certainly wasn’t his only contribution in this season’s Europa Conference League, with Mubama grabbing an assist when he started the 3-0 group stage win over Romanian side FCSB in November.

The teenager may not see much Premier League action in the coming months as the Hammers fight for survival, but he will undoubtedly be a useful attacker as the club search for European success.