Mukasa Leads Three Young Hammers Into Huge England Test

By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

Three of West Ham’s most exciting young players will represent England Under-20s during a fascinating series of international fixtures in Spain.

Airidas Golambeckis, Ezra Mayers and Divine Mukasa have all been selected by new Young Lions head coach Darren Moore for games against Italy, France and Germany.

Finlay Herrick was initially the fourth Hammer included before withdrawing through injury, but having three representatives within one England squad remains a significant achievement for West Ham.

As Claret & Hugh reported when the original squad was announced, the Young Lions begin against Italy on Friday morning before facing France next Tuesday and Germany on Saturday 3 October. All three matches will be staged at the Estadi Olímpic Camilo Cano in La Nucía, Spain.

Mukasa has already outgrown prospect status

Mukasa of course is a product of West Ham’s Academy. Manchester City poached him in 2023 after he had spent almost a decade developing in east London, and the Hammers are now merely borrowing back a player they helped produce… a situation which still rankles with me.

There is little doubt in my mind that, after this season, Mukasa will be good enough to play regularly in the Premier League.

West Ham’s biggest problem will be convincing Manchester City to allow him to return permanently. Our best hope is that City possess such an abundance of quality that they cannot offer him regular football, while West Ham can.

Mukasa has already demonstrated that he belongs in Nuno Espírito Santo’s team. This international window now gives him an opportunity to test himself against three of Europe’s strongest footballing nations.

Golambeckis looks like captain material

Golambeckis has looked absolutely commanding whenever handed a senior opportunity. He has already captained West Ham’s Under-21s and has obvious leadership qualities.

In the two senior starts I have watched him make this season, he has either been West Ham’s best player or very close to it.

The defender was unlucky to lose his place after performing so well, although breaking into the team ahead of Konstantinos Mavropanos was always going to be difficult.

Mavropanos has become Nuno’s first-choice right-sided centre-back and is scoring goals at an extraordinary rate. Golambeckis is effectively serving as his understudy, but he has done nothing to suggest he would let West Ham down if called upon.

Mayers deserves to be judged centrally

Mayers is slightly more difficult to assess because Nuno has frequently used him at left-back.

For me, he is not a left-back. He is a central defender, and it has been difficult to judge his true potential when he has so rarely been allowed to play in his natural position.

That said, Mayers started the 4-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton and looked solid. His England selection demonstrates how highly he remains regarded beyond West Ham.

The three youngsters will face Italy at 10.30am on Friday, France at the same time next Tuesday and Germany at 4.30pm on Saturday 3 October.

Youth football does not always attract significant attention, but three young Hammers representing England together against some of Europe’s best opposition is a major achievement — and one West Ham supporters should be watching closely.