Preview | U18s return from international break to face Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur U18s v West Ham United U18s
U18 Premier League South, Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground, Saturday 29 March 2025, 11am GMT

West Ham United U18s return from the March international window by making the short trip to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur for an 11am kick-off on Saturday morning.

With an U18 Premier League Cup final to look forward to in April, Lauris Coggin’s young Hammers will be hoping to build a head of steam in their three league games before they turn their attention to the final against Reading in April.

How To Follow…

A report and post-match reaction will be available on the Club’s website and app following the final whistle on Saturday, with highlights to follow on Sunday morning.

Previous Meeting...

West Ham United U18s claimed their first league victory of the campaign when the two sides last met in October at Little Heath Training Ground.

Although the visitors raced into an early lead, Coggin's side responded with four goals of their own before the interval. Airidas Golambeckis, Elisha Sowunmi and Andre Dike were all on the scoresheet to ensure the Hammers went into half-time with a healthy 4-1 lead.

Despite going down to ten men late in the second half after Emeka Adiele received a second yellow card, West Ham saw out the game untroubled to claim the three points on derby day.

Opposition…

With seven games left, Tottenham Hotspur U18s are still in the running for top spot in Premier League South. That being said, the table currently has a slightly skewed look to it, with leaders Crystal Palace having played four more games than Spurs, who in turn have played two more games than Aston Villa, who have the best points per game ratio and are level on points with the Lilywhites.

Spurs are the top goalscorers in the southern division of the U18s Premier League, averaging almost three goals a game. Stuart Lewis’ side also have the best home record, winning five out of their eight games in north London.

Ones to Watch...

After signing from Hibernian in January, Josh Landers is quickly developing a reputation in east London for his eye for goal. Six goals in six games for the U18s, following his brace at home to Fulham last time out, Landers has now scored against every opponent he’s faced. A foot in both U21s and U18s camps, the 18-year-old made his Premier League 2 debut last month, coming on as a substitute in the development side’s 1-0 win away at Derby County.

Fresh from helping England qualify for the UEFA U17 Euros in Albania this summer, Chinaza Nwosu returns to Chadwell Heath with a spring in his step. Playing in a deep lying midfield role, shielding the defence, Nwosu’s ability to read the game and play out under pressure will be key if the young Hammers are to pull off another derby day win over Spurs.

Another player in fine form is Tottenham Hotspur’s Luca Williams-Barnett. Contributing in the scoring column in practically every game he plays, the 16-year-old is the Premier League South’s second most prolific marksman, netting 17 times in just 14 games to add to his six assists. 

Putting up similar numbers to those of Mikey Moore last campaign, the 17-year-old Spurs Academy product who was fast tracked from the U18s to the Premier League towards the end of end of last season, Williams-Barnett is making an equally strong case for further first-team inclusion. The young attacking midfielder has already featured four times on the bench for the senior squad.

Still a schoolboy footballer, Williams-Barnett has netted in the last two games he’s faced West Ham U18s, the winning goal on the last day of last season -as an U15s player-, and a brace in their 4-2 defeat in the reverse fixture in October.

The Story So Far...

West Ham United U18s currently occupy eleventh place in Premier League South.

While their FA Youth Cup run ended in the third round at Grimsby Town, their impressive performances in the Premier League Cup have given them a shot at silverware. Knockout victories over Manchester United and Derby County have secured the young Irons a place in their first-ever League Cup final, where they will take on Reading.

U18 Premier League South