So often this season, West Ham United’s exciting crop of Under-21 talent have proved to be a welcome distraction from the struggles of Nuno Espirito Santo’s first-team.
As Jarrod Bowen and co slipped ever closer towards relegation at Anfield – West Ham’s set-piece issues reared their heads again in a 5-2 defeat by Arne Slot’s side – the claret and blue kids put in another sparkling display to suggest that, while the present remains pretty punishing, the future is fairly bright.
Of course, the potential departure of Josh Ajala would put a sizeable dent in that optimism.
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Claret and Hugh this week suggested that Mark Noble is under some scrutiny in his role as West Ham United’s sporting director. The Hammers lost Elisha Sowunmi to Tottenham last month, while Emeka Adiele moved to Eredivisie outfit FC Utrecht.
Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Leeds – in which Ajala scored one and set up another – was the latest reminder about what West Ham risk losing next.
Josh Ajala scores as West Ham United beat Leeds’ Under-21s
Fabrizio Romano claims that, with his contract up in the summer, Ajala has held talks with French and German clubs.
Claret and Hugh add that the teenager is ‘assessing’ options away from East London.
Not that they needed a reminder – Ajala has been in devastating form over the last few weeks – but this was another searing, stand-out performance to add to the collection.
Bouncing back from a first-half penalty miss, Ajala was ‘unplayable’ as West Ham’s Under-21s move up to eighth in the Premier League 2 table.
Speaking to the club’s official website, coach Greg Lincoln felt that the 19-year-old used that frustration as fuel when finally breaking the deadlock with an impressive left-footed volley past Ilan Meslier later in the day.
“It takes real courage to step up and take a penalty, whatever level you play [at],” Lincoln said. “For me, that’s the test; if you’ve got that confidence and courage to step up and take it. It was a really good penalty. It was an outstanding save [from the experienced Meslier].
“I just said to him, ‘[like] all top players, you move on, you’re on to the next moment’. He actually got stronger after that. That wasn’t going to define his game that he played today.
“He kept knocking on the door and eventually he got his well-deserved goal.”
Ajala and Preston Fearon cannot stop scoring for the Hammers
That was his 11th in 20 games this season. Eight in his last eleven appearances in league and cup.
Ajala fired West Ham into the National League Cup final a fortnight ago; Lincoln’s youngsters face Boreham Wood on March 17th. One year after his brace secured Premier League Cup glory for the Under-18s, it is no wonder the West Ham fans are desperate to see Ajala ink a long-term deal and end the speculation for good.
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Defender Ryan Battrum put West Ham ahead again after Leeds levelled at the LNER Community Stadium. Ajala then turned provider for another Hammers kid in fine goalscoring form.
The ‘special’ Preston Fearon can’t stop scoring these days. This was his ninth of the season, having not found the net even once last term.
“I was really pleased with our resilience and our perseverance,” adds Lincoln. “We kept doing the right things. I thought we got stronger as the game went on, created some really good opportunities from fast, free-flowing football and got what we deserved.
“Whenever you play against a Leeds team, they’re dogged, hard-working, well-coached, tough to beat. They’re difficult to break down. Obviously, with a senior player in goal as well, they did a great job at keeping the ball out of the net in the early part [of the game].
“I think [the resilience shown] really epitomises us as a club and us as a group. You can see it through the boys, that togetherness and spirit really comes across with their performances. They’re a really close group.
“They help each other, they stick together, and we pride ourselves on that.
“It’s a really special group. The players are on the pitch, but I think the staff and everyone behind the scenes are doing all those bits and pieces to really give them that platform to go and perform, and show their level.
“It’s a really close-knit group. As I said, we know what we stand for, what we’re about, our values. I think we can be proud of our performances in February, but now it’s our job to keep that on there into March.”
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