West Ham youngster George Earthy has been urged to muscle up to harness his talent for a long Hammers career.
The 19-year-old midfielder scored his first senior goal shortly after coming on in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Luton, in manager David Moyes’ last home match in charge.
Earthy was presented with the Young Hammer of the Year award after the game and Mark Noble has backed him to have “a big future” at West Ham.
Moyes also praised Earthy but had some words of advice to help the former West Ham season-ticket holder flourish.
"George is a really, really talented player," said Moyes. “What George will need to do is build up and improve his strength and his power.
"His football ability is not in question one bit, but it will be more about how he can handle and come into the Premier League.
"You think of the likes of David Silva, players like that who might have been slight in stature but they still found a way.
"George’s challenge now will be to find a way of developing that to the point where he can become an established Premier League player.”
James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek wrestled West Ham control in the second half against Luton, after Albert Sambi Lokonga had left the visitors ahead at the break.
Earthy's super-sub moment handed Moyes a stirring finale to his London Stadium farewell.
Noble's 18-year West Ham career means he knows all about making the Hammers grade as a homegrown midfielder, and revealed full confidence in Earthy following suit.
"George has been with the academy since the age of six," said Noble.
"At the age of seven, he walked out with me as a mascot, I still have the photograph, and it has been a pleasure to watch him grow and develop ever since then, both as a player and as a person.
“Around four years ago, I was first-team captain at the time, and George was 15. George asked me if I would watch some of his clips with him in the video room because he wanted to learn and find that little extra to help push him on.
“That told me all about his attitude and his determination to be better. If he continues to work hard and build on the progress he has made this year, I’ve no doubt he has everything it takes to have a big future at this club.”
