West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has identified an ‘elite’ group of six youngsters who he will take on the club’s pre-season tour of Switzerland in July, according to Claret and Hugh.
The Hammers insider website, which is a reliable source for insider information, report that Pellegrini will use the opportunity to assess their level before deciding whether he wants to keep them around or send them out on loan.
Claret and Hugh claim that the group of six starlets is made up of Reece Oxford, Marcus Browne, Josh Pask, Nathan Holland, Martin Samuelson and Toni Martinez.
Academy boss Terry Westley is quoted as saying about Oxford: “It’s good to see him back – this can be a big season for him under the new boss as it is for all of them. They all have a big chance to advance their claims.”
OPINION
This is a massive chance for these six youngsters to stake a claim for a first-team breakthrough this season, with the appointment of a new manager always a good opportunity for a fresh start. This is particularly true in the case of Oxford, who has been out on loan in Germany for a whole season, and has struggled to make an impact at West Ham since his impressive debut two seasons ago. Hopefully the young defender can show Pellegrini the improvements he has made in the Bundesliga and put himself forward for a first-team spot next season. The other player seemingly most likely to impress out of the six is Toni Martinez, who has been pushing for a first-team berth for a while now. A loan spell at Real Valladolid will have done him the world of good, and Martinez can hopefully convince Pellegrini of his worth to the Hammers. There is some huge talent among the other four as well, and they must grasp this opportunity with both hands this summer.
