West Ham United Academy Manager and Head of Player Development and Coaching Terry Westley is delighted with how his young players have integrated with the senior professionals at the Hammers’ training camp in Cork.
Several members of the Development Squad have travelled out to Ireland with the more experienced players, which include the likes of Joey O’Brien, Diafra Sakho, Matt Jarvis, Morgan Amalfitano, Darren Randolph, James Tomkins and Mauro Zarate.
A chance in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League qualifier against FC Lusitans could await them, and Westley says that has acted as a great incentive throughout the week-long camp.
He explained: “When we first met with the players when we returned to Chadwell Heath on Monday, we said that we had ten days leading into a European fixture. To come away and have this group of players together for this period of time has been a success.
“Ultimately, Thursday night will decide how successful that has been, but to get the senior players and younger players integrated together, to do blocks of work, and to focus for the European game, the camp ticks all the boxes we set out to achieve.
“As a young player you’re always after an opportunity. It doesn’t matter what age. If you’re 16 you want an opportunity in Under-18s football, if you’re a scholar you want to play in the 21s and if you’re an Under-21 you want that chance to play first team football, or at least to train with the first team.
“This trip has really highlighted again the benefits of Reece Burke, Reece Oxford, Josh Pask and Manny Onariase marking Diafra Sakho. When you are being tested day in, day out your progress will be very sharp and that has really been evident on this trip all over the pitch.
“Whether you’re Djair Parfitt-Williams playing against Joey O’Brien, a midfield player playing against senior players, Jordan Brown playing against Tomkins, that combination works and the progress, even in this short period of time, is significant.
“That’s something I’ve spoken to the new manager about and it’s something that we’re very keen on moving forward.”
Westley has taken training throughout the first week of pre-season, with new boss Slaven Bilic arriving on Friday to meet his new players.
He continued: “Slaven has been monitoring training, he’s got to meet the young players and the senior players, he’s had meetings with them and it gives him the chance before the whole senior group turn up next week to know the players across the board.
“I have to say, first and foremost, the senior players have shown the young boys the utmost respect, and vice versa, and I haven’t seen a poor training session here where they haven’t committed to the work.
“They’ve been trying to press the ball as soon as they lose it, trying to move it quickly and counter-attack with pace. The professionalism of the group, of the staff around the group and the organisation – I’ve got the utmost respect for the senior players for the way they’ve gone about this week. I think that stands us in good stead for Thursday.”
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