West Ham academy reveal highlights another failing for Julen Lopetegui
West Ham United risk losing their status as ‘The Academy of Football’ unless Julen Lopetegui gives young players a chance this season.
Roshane Thomas reported for The Athletic (22 November) that of the 20 Premier League teams, the Irons have given the joint-lowest number of minutes to club-trained players this season – zero.
While Brentford, Wolves and Fulham have also failed to give home-grown talent a chance so far this term, the Hammers’ average age of 28.8 years is the highest of the four, showing a refresh is needed.
Lopetegui’s side have had a less-than-ideal start to the campaign, putting the Spaniard under increasing pressure, but giving more opportunities to academy players could help to turn their form around.
West Ham still have a lot of talent waiting in the wings
Of the Irons’ new-look squad – expensively assembled by Tim Steidten and Lopetegui over the summer – the likes of Kaelan Casey and Oliver Scarles are yet to be given a sniff of first-team action this season.
Lopetegui’s side have been leaking goals like it’s going out of fashion this term and have the Premier League’s fifth-worst defence, having struggled at left-back and in central defence respectively.
The Hammers’ summer overhaul also saw several academy players head for the exit door – with the likes of Divin Mubama and Ben Johnson seeing no clear path to regular first-team minutes in East London.
Another player who departed, albeit temporarily, was George Earthy, whose loan move to Bristol City after a strong first few games last season has culminated in an England Under-21s call-up.
Casey, Scarles and England Under-19s captain Lewis Orford are all players chomping at the bit for a first-team chance, and if Lopetegui is deposed, it remains to be seen if a new manager means more opportunities for young players.
In other West Ham news, the club’s four-man shortlist to replace Lopetegui includes one name which stands out above the rest.
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