U18s arrive at London Stadium

Team News: Starting XI confirmed for U18s' FA Youth Cup semi-final tie

team v Saints

West Ham United U18s' starting XI for tonight's FA Youth Cup semi-final tie with Southampton U18s has been confirmed. 

Kevin Keen's young Irons welcome the Saints to London Stadium for this evening's last four fixture, with the winners going on to play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the final of the prestigious competition. 

Lead coach Keen has named his side for the fixture and has kept faith with most of the young Hammers who have fired the side into the semi-finals. 

Goalkeeper Mason Terry starts in goal for the U18. The shot-stopper has featured 20 times in all competitions this campaign for the side, and made his development team debut at the end of 2022. 

Ryan Battrum, Kaelan Casey, Regan Clayton and Ollie Scarles are also selected in the side. Clayton and Casey have predominately spent the 2022/23 season with the U21s, coming in for FA Youth Cup fixtures, while Battrum scored his first U18s goal in the 4-2 AET win against Ipswich Town in the quarter-finals. 

Scarles, meanwhile, has scored twice in 20 outings for the U18s this season and made his first team debut in the UEFA Europa Conference League Group B win away to FCSB in November. 

Lewis Orford, Patrick Kelly and George Earthy are chosen for the semi-final. Orford, on the back of signing his first professional deal earlier this year, has scored ten goals at U18s level this season, while Earthy has six goals in 13 U18s matches. 

Kelly, meanwhile, makes his return to the side after a short spell out with injury. 

Lead coach Keen names three attackers in the team in Divin Mubama, Callum Marshall and captain Gideon Kodua. 

Mubama, who has played across the first team, U21s and U18s this season, has scored five goals already in the FA Youth Cup this season. Marshall, meanwhile, has 19 goals in as many games for the U18s. 

Kodua, meanwhile, has 12 goals at U18s level this season.

Among the options available to Keen on the bench are midfielder Dan Rigge, speedy forward Favour Fawunmi and attacker Blaise Uwandji. 

West Ham United U18s: Terry, Battrum, Scarles, Orford, Clayton, Casey, Kelly, Earthy, Marshall, Kodua (c), Mubama
Subs: Tarima, Herrick, Rigge, Fawunmi, Briggs, Uwandji, Jones

 

Referee: Sam Allison