West Ham United’s under-21s have only recently returned to form after a challenging start to the 2022/23 season.
After a strong season last term that saw the then under-23s finish second in Premier League 2 and only six points behind Manchester City at the top of the table, the Hammers struggled in the start of this campaign with a number of last season’s youth prospects either leaving on loan or in permanent deals.
In the Hammers under-21s’ opening 16 matches of the season in all competitions, they only picked up two wins, both of which were in Papa John’s Trophy away at Walsall and Cheltenham Town.
READ MORE: How West Ham will prepare for Arsenal with friendly fixtures confirmed amid World Cup break
Since the first-team’s win away at FCSB in the Europa Conference League earlier this month that saw several academy players play for the first-team, including senior debuts for Ollie Scarles, Divin Mubama and Kaelan Casey, the under-21s have been in inspired form, winning three on the trot against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Feyenoord to move off the bottom of the PL2 table. They have also picked up their first win of the season in the Premier League International Cup.
While the under-21s are only starting to come to form, the under-18s have been in flying form this season and sit at the top of the Under-18s Premier League South table with seven wins from seven matches.
Of teams in the Under-18s Premier League, both in south and north sections, West Ham are the only side in the 25 academy top flight under-18 sides with a perfect record, scoring 26 goals and conceding just ten, sitting seven points clear of London rivals Crystal Palace in second place.
On Saturday, West Ham continued their hot streak with a 2-0 win over Leicester City. George Earthy and Favour Fawumni were on target in the second half, with Scarles, Mubama and Casey all starting.
West Ham have been a very free-scoring team at under-18s level. In their opening five games of the season in all competitions, they scored 22 goals, including a 5-4 and 4-2 wins over Fulham and a 6-3 win over Aston Villa. Northern Ireland youth international Callum Marshall has got six of those in just three appearances, while Lewis Orford has also added four from midfield.
Their perfect start to the league season will be next tested on Saturday when they head to Arsenal, followed by a trip to Chelsea.
READ NEXT:
West Ham United top unwanted table ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham
What West Ham's Declan Rice told Jude Bellingham before England's World Cup win vs Iran
West Ham legend Mark Noble makes Liverpool transfer claim and Manchester United admission
'The whole package' - Declan Rice makes England claim as he gives verdict on West Ham legend
West Ham rival Liverpool and Manchester United for managerial record among Premier League clubs
