WHZ Stats: West Ham youngster Akinola continues to shine while on loan at Leyton Orient
Tunji Akinola isn’t one of the most talked-about young players that West Ham have on their books but the defender is certainly making an impression while on loan at Leyton Orient this season.
Akinola, 21, has played six times in League Two since heading to Brisbane Road and won the LOFC Supporters’ man of the match award for his most-recent display, which came in the 1-1 draw against Exeter on Tuesday night.
In that match, stats by WyScout show that Akinola won 60 per cent of the defensive duels he was involved in.
The young Hammer made two interceptions, 15 recoveries and three clearances while also winning one of the two aerial duels he challenged for and failed to give away any fouls while playing at right-back.
Going forward, the 21-year-old failed to stand-out as much as he failed to find a team-mate with either of the two crosses he attempted and his one and only dribble attempt was unsuccessful.
However Akinola has been used more as a centre-back when playing for West Ham’s Under-23s so he’s very much a defensive-minded right-back when he’s told to play in that position.
When he joined Leyton Orient on loan earlier this month, Akinola told the League Two club’s official website: “I’m a defender first and foremost, I like to make tackles and blocks, and get clean sheets – it’s what I pride myself on.”
Stats have shown that Akinola is right about himself and it’s very good for a youngster to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses so they can build on both.
According to WyScout, Akinola has averaged 4.94 interceptions, 10.41 recoveries and 2.47 clearances per 90 minutes of League Two football since joining Leyton Orient. He’s also won 57.1 per cent of all his defensive duels and 60 per cent of his aerial duels in the fourth-tier.
They’re decent numbers for a player who’s only just getting his first taste of senior football.
Hopefully, Akinola continues to impress at Brisbane Road and continues getting a good amount of first-team game-time under his belt.
If he does then there’s no doubt that he will give David Moyes something to think about when he returns to West Ham at the end of his loan spell next year.
In other West Ham news, the club is scouting the Czech Republic for new players.