Andy Carroll grabbed most of the headlines from the behind-closed-doors friendly against Brentford but it was a highly significant game for Nathan Holland.

The highly skilled and super-quick winger – back from a two month injury – was in terrific form and looking to catch up with lost time as he laid his first team claims before boss Manuel Pellegrini.

And afterwards he said: ““I’ve got to be ready if and when my time comes. I was close to getting my opportunity before the injury [when I was on the bench for the Carabao Cup game at AFC Wimbledon] and I just need to work hard and, if that opportunity arrives, I have to take it.”

He was marked by Championship full-back in Brentford’s Moses Odubajo but used his blinding to pace to give the experienced defender something of a nightmare.

And afterwards he said: “It feels good to be back in action, especially with the first team. I’ve been out for a while with an ankle injury and it was frustrating to pick it up when I did, but it’s part of football and there are many ups and downs you have to deal with as a player.

“It was good to get some minutes on Thursday. Friendlies can be slow paced and not as useful as they should be, but I thought it was a really good game. It was competitive and I enjoyed being part of it.

“It was good to get a feel of what first-team football is like against a good Brentford team from the Championship. It was useful for a lot of the players to get some game-time.”

CandH’s view:

Nathan Holland has long been considered the next big Hammers thing and in an era when more and more young academy products are coming through, he may just be the cherry on the cake. Super-quick and skill to burn , he has never looked out of place when making his first team appearances and having overcome a second major injury in a year, Nathan is clearly a young man in a big hurry to make up for lost time. David Moyes was extremely keen to take a look when he arrived at the club last season but injury intervened and that he should have been able to clinch a place in the first team dressing room whilst being hit with major problems demonstrates just how highly rated the former Everton youngster has now become under Manuel Pellegrini. Having seen the kid he is the one I would have tipped for greatness and under a manager who likes, and is more importantly, brave enough to give them their chance, the sky really does look to be the limit. Just stay injury free young man.