When West Ham United travel to Luton Town on Friday evening, there could be a few familiar faces in the opposition ranks.
Luton's first Premier League fixture at Kenilworth Road will undoubtedly be a special occasion for the club and their fans, but Friday's outing will also hold significance for the lads in the Hatters' squad who spent time at the Academy of Football.
Reece Burke, Dan Potts and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu all enjoyed youth football at with West Ham during their respective careers and, while Potts is sidelined with injury, Burke and Mpanzu could both feature against their former employers.
Academy coach Mark Phillips worked with all three during their time in the West Ham system and, ahead of the first Premier League meeting between the two sides, gave an insight into each player's attributes and what fans can expect from each the season.
Reece Burke
Reece is a really talented centre-half and he was in my first West Ham team I coached at Chadwell Heath, as part of the Under-10s when I started.
For someone so young, it was really weird because he could actually head the ball. That is really unusual for someone that age. We used him in both boxes because of that, because he was naturally brave and just attacked the ball.
He comes from a West Ham-mad family. He’s from East Ham – and just always wanted to learn while he was here. I imagine his feelings will be all over the place ahead of the game, as all his family are big West Ham fans!
The big thing about Reece is that he is a much better footballer on the floor than he is given credit for. He is much more than just a centre-back who can head it and defend, he can play too.
Reece has got a good range of passing but his main attribute as an Academy player was that he always listened and wanted to get better.
Dan Potts
I know Dan so well – his Dad, Steve, is one of my best friends. I know his family really well, too.
Dan was at West Ham since the Under-8s – and had to overcome a lot of challenges for someone so young.
He had childhood leukaemia and had around a year away from football when he was 12 or 13-years-old. So, to see him fight his way back to playing at West Ham – and now play in the Premier League with Luton is really inspiring.
From his time at the Academy, I know Dan as a great professional – and a great defender too. Of course, he will be desperate to play against West Ham this season, so hopefully he will be back [from an ankle injury] for the fixture at London Stadium.
Dan’s organisation has been really impressive in the games I have watched him play for Luton over the past few years. He is really effective from set-pieces and attacks the ball when he gets into the opposition’s box.
His communication skills are probably his biggest strength, and obviously, he has a great left foot as well. He has found himself back in the Premier League and that is great to see.
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu
Pelly was at Boreham Wood before he came to West Ham as a 19-year-old. I remember that he had a great attitude during his time at West Ham.
He was a player that just wanted to keep going and going – and had a real drive to get better and learn.
Pelly went to Luton when they were in the Conference (now the National League) – and now he is in the Premier League! He has just stayed in there and, like a lot of former West Ham players who have gone to Luton, he has done really well for himself.
I think his best attribute is his engine. He is a proper box-to-box midfielder – and often pops up in the action at both ends of the pitch. He has a real tenacity to win the ball back.
On the former Hammers playing against West Ham
Not everyone at the Academy can go on to play for West Ham because there are so many players at Chadwell Heath across the age groups.
But you want to do the best by each of them and make them the best players and people you can. If former Hammers are coming back to play against us in the Premier League, then, in a weird sort of way, we have done our job.
We don’t want it hurting us, though! With Dan not fit to play, the best thing on Friday for us would be that Reece and Pelly played really well – but, of course, we win 4-0! We hope they play well - but not too well, if that makes sense!
