West Ham United U23s’ Nathan Holland and Anthony Scully have both been nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for October.
Both players have been in fine form for Dmitri Halajko’s team throughout the month, each netting twice as the side recorded convincing away league victories over Stoke and Norwich.
Holland also recorded two assists against Cheltenham Town in the Leasing.com Trophy early in the month, while Scully set up two goals at Stoke and netted against Wolfsburg ‘B’ in the Premier League International Cup earlier this week.
The nomination marks Scully’s second consecutive nod for the award, having won the prize for his goalscoring exploits in September, while Holland has also been nominated for it before in February 2017.
With Dan Kemp also having been put forward for August's award, the U23s have now picked up four nominations in just three months.
“I was very happy to win the award last month, as it is a great achievement, but my only goal was to continue playing well after that,” said Scully. “I never really thought about being nominated again, but to be up for it this month is brilliant, and I’m very happy.
“It’s been a great month for me but, more importantly, it’s been great for the team as we have maintained our league form and remain top of the league.”
Holland was in agreement with his teammate: “It’s always nice to be recognised and rewarded for your hard work. I’m delighted.
“It was a fantastic month. I’m feeling fit, healthy and really enjoying my football at the moment. I hope that both the team and I can just keep pushing on from here.”
We always seem to be assisting and scoring goals for one another, so hopefully that can continue for the rest of the season.
Anthony Scully
Also up for the award are former Hammers scholar Jahmal Hector-Ingram, along with Derby County teammate Jason Knight; Callum Wright of Leicester City; Largie Ramazani of Manchester United; and Josh Thomas of Swansea City.
The shortlist was compiled by the League’s Football Development Panel, after club coaches put forwards the best performance by an opposing player in each of their PL2 matches over the course of the month.
Having enjoyed a prolific partnership throughout October, both Scully and Holland took the opportunity to praise their teammate’s contribution to another successful month for the side.
“We’ve helped each other a lot,” Holland said. “Anthony can’t stop scoring goals at the moment, and we have a great relationship on and off the pitch. He won the award last month, and it was thoroughly deserved. Of course, I’d love to win it too, but if he were to win again, I’d be just as happy.”
Scully added: “It’s great to be up for the award alongside Nathan. We have a great relationship on the pitch, but also off it as well, which is why I’m delighted for him.
"We love playing together on the pitch. We always seem to be assisting and scoring goals for one another, so hopefully that can continue for the rest of the season.”
West Ham U23s continue their Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign away at Swansea’s Landore Training Centre on Sunday lunchtime.
