It is safe to say that West Ham United U21s striker Callum Marshall is up and running in 2023/24.
The opener against Sunderland followed by his first Premier League 2 hat-trick against Leeds United last time out means the Northern Ireland forward has struck four goals in his last two league outings.
The victory over Leeds saw Marshall, alongside George Earthy and Gideon Kodua, toy with their opponents' defence. The Academy of Football thriving in a 5-2 win at Elland Road.
Alongside Ollie Scarles and Kaelan Casey, Marshall was among the goals. He struck the first to restore his side’s lead with a neat shift onto his left and strike across the goalkeeper.
His second was a wonderful team move started by goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge, no less. Scarles then found Kodua. His cross tucked home by Marshall.
The third, though, was arguably the best. He shifted the ball again to his left, before the bottom corner was found once more. Three goals. Three points. Three wins on the bounce too.
Marshall, as expected, was beaming come the final whistle.
“I could have had a couple more, but I’ve got the match ball,” the FA Youth Cup-winning striker smiled. “It’s a good one to go and tell my mum and dad about.
“It was a long day, with the travelling and the hotel…but as soon as we got going, there was no catching us. Some of the football we played in the second half was ridiculous and I think we tore them to shreds really.
"I was more annoyed about the header I missed more than anything. Two of the goals were just shifting the ball onto my left foot….and then shooting back across the goal. And it worked a charm twice.”
Recent triumphs over Sunderland, Valencia, and Leeds United mean confidence is high as the Hammers head into their fourth PL2 outing of the season against Everton.
The squad was given the Bank Holiday weekend off having achieved lead coach Steve Potts’ task of seven points from three matches across a busy seven days.
And following that run of form, there are plenty of positives to take from the result of Leeds ahead of Friday’s match, as well.
“At half-time, we knew if we moved the ball as we have in other games [we would win the game,” he stated. “Once we got our foot on the ball, and started moving it with some combinations, they couldn’t live with us, to be fair.”
