Behind closed doors fixtures during international breaks are nothing new: Most football clubs, West Ham included, arrange fixtures to keep up match fitness and player focus during these seemingly interminable breaks in the domestic season. At least this time round it is a ‘mere’ two week hiatus – which will fly by compared with September’s three week pause.
For several of West Ham’s players the break comes at an opportune moment: Kyle Walker Peters’ thigh muscle injury kept him out of the Ewood Park trip and the Hammers medical team have a valuable fortnight to work on his and spare ‘keeper Alphonse Areola’s fitness – whether it be injury or rustiness in the French shot stopper’s case.
As exWHUemployee reported, West Ham took on Fulham in a behind closed doors friendly and intriguingly there was a new name on Scott Parker’s West Ham’s team sheet.
Whilst there was no public announcement of the players in the Hammers team, one very proud youngster announced his own (friendly) debut with an instagram stories post: Fifteen year old rising star Jude Longman pictured his Hammers shirt along with the comment ‘first team debut vs Fulham”
Already making waves at u18 and u21 level, the exciting prospect apparently took part in his first ‘seniors’ game after having created something of a stir with seven goals in nine u18 games: Definitely one to remember for the future.