David Moyes says he is ready to push Sonny Perkins to the next level after the Hammers.
The club did make attempts to bring a new centre-forward into the club but were unable to do so and as a result the youngster could be pushed into a first team forward role.
Perkins could play for the Irons this weekend against Kidderminster Harriers in the fourth round of the FA Cup, having played three times for the Irons thus far this season.
He has played twice in the Europa League and once in the Premier League, and has scored six goals in 14 games for the U23s.
And Moyes says he needs to keep pushing him to reach the level of a proper first-teamer.
He told reporters: “Sonny is still young, we like him but is he ready for this level, I’m not quite sure yet. But we will keep pushing him, Our U23’s are doing really well and we want them to keep going.
“It is an incredible improvement from where they were in season’s gone by. We want them to keep maturing and getting better together.
And I want to be able to give some young players an opportunity and get them on the bench and around the squad as well because part of our job is to try and bring them on so hopefully we can give them that opportunity at the right times.”
