Irons youngsters face “ultimate test”

Teenager Jamal Baptise set to enter the action against Chelsea.

West Ham United Under-23s lead coach Dmitri Halajko tomorrow’s game against Chelsea demonstrates why the team battled so hard for promotion last season.

The young Hammers, who won Premier League 2 Division 2 last time around with an unbeaten league record, have been handed the toughest test of all in their first game of the new campaign: an away trip to face last season’s Division 1 champions, Chelsea.

The Blues’ development squad were themselves were unbeaten in their last Premier League 2 season and, like Halajko’s team, finished three points clear of their closest rivals, both clubs ultimately being awarded their respective titles on a points-per-game settlement.

Tomorrow’s game at Kingsmeadow will provide the ultimate test of our youngsters and Halajko said: “It’s why we wanted to try and get promoted: to play against the big teams in the big games.

“In that division for me, there’s probably no bigger or better other team at youth development in Under-23s football than Chelsea. They really are a powerhouse at that level, so we’re really looking forward to going and testing ourselves against that.

“We won’t be scared, we’ll be relishing it – we can’t wait to play and see what we can do against them, and we’ll try to take the game to them.

The match kicks off at 1pm behind closed doors and you can follow the action on www.whufc.com from noon

ClaretandHugh says: To have taken the Hammers back to the top level of Premier League 2 after relegation in 2018/19 was a tremendous achievement by lead coach Halajko. To do so without losing a game was immense and now, as he says, comes the ultimate test of our youngsters – Chelsea away.  Our hope is that David Moyes will be watching because with Declan Rice and  Grady Diangana having broken through to Premier League football and  Conor Coventry and Nathan Holland becoming big prospects for the future there’s much to excite us after the wilderness years at grass roots level. Ben Johnson – having missed the defeat against Newcastle – will get a chance to show he is over his Bournemouth nightmare whilst Xande Silva will look to impress up front. Sixteen year old Jamal Baptiste – who was so impressive at central defence in pre-season – should also get his opportunity at the back.