Academy

Preview | Young Hammers host Red Devils in U18 Premier League Cup quarter-final

3rd February 2025

West Ham United U18s v Manchester United U18s
U18s Premier League Cup quarter-final, Rush Green Stadium, Tuesday 4 February 2025, 11am GMT

West Ham United U18s host defending champions Manchester United U18s in a Premier League Cup quarter-final showdown at Rush Green Stadium.

Lauris Coggin’s young Hammers secured their place in the last eight as one of seven group winners, with victories over Nottingham Forest and Southampton as well as a draw at Everton.

Their opponents, reigning U18 Premier League and Premier League Cup champions Manchester United, reached the knockout stages having topped Group B with wins over Leicester City and Leeds United.

How To Follow…

The game will be blogged live, while a live stream of the fixture will be available across the Club’s website and YouTube channel. A match report, highlights and reaction will also follow the full-time whistle.

Opposition…

Manchester United U18s, last season’s league and cup double winners, have picked up where they left off this campaign. Until a first league defeat of the season against local rivals and fellow title contenders Manchester City at the weekend, the young Red Devils had won all eleven of their league fixtures in a run that saw them score 47 goals and concede just four.

In the Premier League Cup however, the defending champions have not been quite as dominant, qualifying for Tuesday’s semi-final only by virtue of goal difference with Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur equalling their tally of six points in Group B. In fact, it was Spurs that handed them their first –and until last Saturday– only defeat of the season. A Spurs side that in their very next game, fell to a 4-2 defeat against our young Hammers.

Ones To Watch...

With plenty of U21s experience under his belt this season, Josh Ajala has netted eleven times across West Ham United’s U21s and U18s sides. The second-year scholar is in a strong run of form, on the scoresheet in four of his last five appearances for Mark Robson’s development side. His finishing ability was on full display in the U18s’ last win, a 3-1 victory over Southampton in their third and final Premier League Cup group game in which Ajala bagged a brace.

Teammate Preston Fearon has also been a key figure this season for both the U18s and U21s. Making his debut for Mark Robson’s development side in a Premier League International Cup game against SL Benfica B, Fearon has since started the last six games for the development squad, five of which have been victories. Captain at U18s level, the 18-year-old has excelled under lead coach Lauris Coggin, with nine assists in eleven appearances, five of which have come in this competition.

Also making the transition into the U21s set-up for his Manchester United side, James Scanlon has been in terrific form. From left wing, Scanlon has eleven goals and five assists for the U18s. 2024 has been a landmark year for the 18-year-old, signing his first professional contract and making his senior international debut for Gibraltar. His ability to play central or wide as well as his goalscoring and playmaking have been an integral part to Manchester United’s success this season as well as the last.

Pulling the strings in midfield, Tyler Fletcher signed for the Red Devils from local rivals Manchester City in 2023 alongside twin brother Jack. Son of five-time Premier League champion Darren Fletcher, Tyler is enjoying a key role in the U18s having not featured so prominently in his debut season. Although he only has one goal to his name this season for Adam Lawrence’s free-scoring Manchester United team, Fletcher has excelled in shielding the back four in his defensive midfield role and creating chances for his teammates; seven assists and counting for the 17-year-old.

The Story So Far...

It has been a really strong season in terms of development for West Ham United U18s, with five of Lauris Coggin’s scholars not just transitioning to the development side set-up at Rush Green, but starting games regularly for Mark Robson’s U21s.

Tuesday’s one-off elimination game against one of the most in-form academies in England will be an excellent opportunity for Coggin’s young Hammers to show just how much they have progressed.

The U18s qualified for the knockout stages as group D winners following 2-0 and 3-1 victories over Nottingham Forest and Southampton respectively, and a 4-4 draw away to Everton.

Having fallen at the quarter-final stage against Manchester City this time last year, the young Hammers will be eager to take the next step this time around.