West Ham loanee Callum Marshall makes point to Lopetegui, ‘I wasn’t going to be bullied’
Callum Marshall has made a point to Julen Lopetegui that he wants to return to the West Ham first team after his Huddersfield Town loan.
The 19-year-old completed a move to the Terriers during the summer after a failed spell with West Bromwich Albion in the second half of last campaign.
In his opening 11 appearances in League One, the striker has scored two and assisted one and has spoken to HTTV (20 October) to share his desire to return to the Hammers’ first team rather than Under-21s.
He said: “I had to make sure that the gaffer knew I was good enough to play, and I wasn’t going to be bullied by older, bigger centre-backs. That was the main thing, making sure that he knew that I was capable of playing with men.
“Hopefully, I get a good load of games this season under my belt, and go back to West Ham at the end of the season, and they can see me as more of a man, rather than an Under-21s player.”
Callum Marshall wants success on West Ham return
The Northern Ireland international has shown some positive form in League One this season which has seen him impress under Michael Duff.
There was plenty of frustration on all sides from player and club when his loan spell at The Hawthorns didn’t go to plan for any party.
The Albion played him just three times during his spell last campaign which somewhat stunted his progression into senior football.
As a result, the ex-Linfield forward has dropped another division down in search of game time and he appears to have found that in Huddersfield.
He bagged against Bristol Rovers on 19 October and will be hoping that he can start a run of goalscoring form to impress Lopetegui back in East London.
With a view to returning to the London Stadium and a desire not to feature for the Under-21s it seems that his drive is to claim a first team role.
Niclas Fullkrug is struggling for fitness while Michail Antonio is only getting older so there is no reason why Marshall can’t claim that spot.
In other West Ham news, Simon Jordan has been left baffled by a board decision made about Julen Lopetegui.
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