OPINION
West Ham enforcer Reece Burke has a golden opportunity waiting for him in July but he must seize the chance he has been waiting a lifetime to have.
The 21-year-old centre-back, who is a life-long Hammer according to the club’s official site, must take his opportunity in pre-season to force his way into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans in order to feature for the club on a regular basis.
In an interview with the club’s official site, Academy Director Terry Westley confirmed that Pellegrini was set to be in attendance at the upcoming friendly game against Dagenham in July in order to assess the club’s young talent.
Westley then threw down the gauntlet to several of the promising Hammers players currently on the fringes of first-team action and named Burke in particular.
“Nobody will be allowed to go on loan until Manuel has seen them for himself, which is credit to players and Academy staff as he told me he has heard good things, he wants to see what he has got before anybody goes on loan,” said the Academy Director.
“Dagenham is a good game to start and Manuel has confirmed that will attend with his staff and take the chance to see the young players in action.
“Can the likes of Burke, Oxford, Browne, Holland and Samuelsen step up and show the manager they are ready to play?”
While Westley hints that Pellegrini is looking to ensure only the right players leave on loan if he sees a player worthy of benefiting his first-team squad the experienced manager won’t hesitate to use them.
This is especially the case in regards to centre-backs, such as Burke, as Pellegrini has disappointingly had to rip up plans to sign two centre-backs in his window if a recent report is to be believed.
Claret & Hugh previously claimed that the wise manager wanted two new centre-backs signed but after Manuel Lanzini’s shock injury he would likely change direction by just signing one new player in that area, in order to have the funds to sign a player capable of replacing Lanzini.
Burke, who has previously featured 15 times for the senior side in his career, has the ability to be a player capable of being cover for the first-team and must make his new boss’ disappointment become irrelevant by showing his qualities in the pre-season games.
With Pellegrini in attendance at the Dagenham match Burke can successfully stake his claim and take a huge step towards living his dream by regularly being involved in the Hammers’ first-team squad.
