West Ham United’s young winger Nathan Holland is being ‘freely discussed’ for a call-up to the first team, according to Claret & Hugh.
The reliable Hammers news source claims that the 21-year-old is well-placed to be brought into the first team set-up ready for the clash with Tottenham Hotspur a week on Saturday.
He is the main academy product that manager Manuel Pellegrini is looking to promote at present, although fellow creative midfielder Joe Powell is also in the hunt.
The two youngsters both started Wednesday night’s Leasing.com defeat to Exeter City, where Powell scored a penalty in the 3-1 defeat.
OPINION
Claret & Hugh’s report stated that Wednesday’s game would be key for both youngsters, as it would be the last one before Pellegrini will have to decide on whether to include them against Tottenham or not. Powell, you’d think, is probably more of a long shot, although he did his chances no harm against the Grecians. It’s Holland, though, who would appear to have produced form so undeniable that Pellegrini has to give him a call-up for a league game sooner or later. He has scored eight times and bagged four assists in 12 games so far this campaign [Source: Transfermarkt], producing form which leaves the senior West Ham attacking midfielders in the shade. Obviously he is doing it at second string level, as opposed to the first team stage, but he’s clearly outgrown that format of the game. He needs to be given a chance with the senior side and, with West Ham performing so poorly at the moment, Pellegrini might as well give him an opportunity.
