West Ham United loanees Callum Marshall and Patrick Kelly, enjoyed winning starts as they made their debuts for Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers, respectively, in the first round of the EFL Cup.
A third young Northern Irishman, Michael Forbes, also made his first start, playing the full 90 minutes in Bristol Rovers’ defeat by Championship side Cardiff City.
Marshall, last season’s top marksman for the Hammers' U21s, continued his fine form by finding the net and registering an assist on his debut for Huddersfield Town. The League One outfit secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Morecambe in their first match back at the John Smith's Stadium.
The home side adopted a very direct approach from the first whistle, taking the lead within just 23 seconds thanks to Jaheim Headley’s strike. Before half-time, Lasse Sørensen delivered a low cross that found Marshall at the back post, where he calmly finished off a sweeping transition move. The 19-year-old centre-forward then turned provider five minutes later, outhustling Tom White on the wing before driving the ball inside and slipping a disguised pass to strike partner Danny Ward, who trebled their lead. The three-goal cushion comfortably secured Huddersfield's passage to the second round.
Callum Marshall opening his account for #htafc 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZtvprE7qGl
— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) August 14, 2024
Patrick Kelly also made his mark as Doncaster Rovers progressed to the second round of the EFL Cup on a very wet night in Salford. Goals from veteran marksman Billy Sharp and Luke Molyneux were enough to see the Yorkshire side through.
Kelly played 70 minutes, partnering with Zain Westbrooke in midfield, where he faced former Hammers youngster Dan Chesters, who joined Salford in the summer. Before League Two leaders Doncaster took control of the game, Rovers' first chance would come courtesy of a trademark Kelly forward run. Picking up the ball in midfield, Kelly beat his counterpart Matthew Lund before racing into the box and laying it off to Harry Clifton, whose shot ricocheted off the woodwork.
Both Marshall and Kelly’s performances will give their respective Northern Irish managers, Michael Duff and former Hammer Grant McCann, plenty to consider ahead of the weekend. Huddersfield Town return to League One action on Saturday as they host Stevenage, while Doncaster Rovers travel to Newport in League Two.
On Wednesday, fellow West Ham loanee Levi Laing started for Cheltenham Town in a 3-0 defeat at Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle in their EFL Cup first-round tie. The Robins held firm for 62 minutes at Home Park, despite being put under intense pressure, but conceded goals to Ben Waine, Ryan Hardie and Mustapha Bundu to go out of the competition.
