Graham Potter couldn’t be more pleased with West Ham academy graduate Ollie Scarles, according to a London Stadium source.
Scarles has been given a chance to shine by the Hammers’ new gaffer, and according to the insider, Potter has been praising the academy at every opportunity.
“The manager has been very impressed with the academy since he joined,” claimed the West Ham insider.
“He is speaking to Mark Noble all the time and is really pleased with Scarles.”
A training ground source also informed Claret & Hugh that the academy staff and players are absolutely ‘buzzing’ that Potter has taken such an interest in the youth set-up.
Of course, there should be little surprise at the talent within the academy, given the Hammers’ FA Youth Cup win over Arsenal in April 2023.
The Gunners were well beaten that day, and Scarles started in the Irons’ 5-1 victory. The Arsenal team that day included two players who featured in Saturday’s 1-0 win at the Emirates – Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri – neither of whom looked particularly impressive in that youth final.
The Hammers boys have had to bide their time, but Scarles is demonstrating that a lack of talent was never the problem. The impressive Irons wing-back might have had to wait whilst players on the losing side that day got their chance. . . it just needed the right manager in the West Ham hot seat.
Scarles is at the right age now, when Moyes played him in Europe I think he was only 17. Too young I think for the pressures of first team football but now he’s ready.
Unless you make use of your Academy what is the point of having one? of course not everyone will make the grade but to have a manager take interest in such an important resource can only be good news for the youth and the club and for Sullivans pocket!
Having an academy is a EPL requirement.