Due for a medical today, Celtic’s teenage goalscoring prodigy is hopefully well on the way to signing a pre-agreement to join West Ham in the summer: His Parkhead contract expires at the end of the season but, rather than sell him in the January window, Celtic decided to keep hold of their youngster Daniel Cummings ‘just in case’ as their third choice striker. The sums involved are peanuts either way so it is understandable that they chose keeping their teenager in the squad – he has after all played in the Champions’ League, if not the SPL!
With the thirst for some good news – any – after Saturday’s fail against Brentford, it is worth taking a dispassionate look at the striker who should be joining the claret and blue ranks in the summer.
According to the The Scottish Sun in December ’24, Cummings ‘has bagged 22 goals in 20 matches this year across domestic and European competition and has a strike ratio that Cristiano Ronaldo would be would be proud of” – albeit in the youth leagues!
Not one senior appearance, save 17 minutes in the Champions League against Aston Villa: So, not a finished article by any means and one more than likely hyped out of desperation not realism, owing to the paucity of attacking talent at West Ham just now.
Probably he’ll go into the u21 squad, so don’t hold your breath that you’ll be seeing him on your TV or in person at London Stadium any time next season. Mark Noble was tasked with bringing Cummings in for a reason – he is a future prospect, not a first team player in the making any time soon.
There is a suspicion that he has been held back by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers – time will tell whether that was the wisest choice. However, footballleagueworld.co.uk reporting in November’24 saw something in him well worth nurturing:
“Primarily operating as as a forward, he has proven that he is highly capable of scoring goals, which makes him a valuable asset at such a young age. Cummings has also been used as a wide player at times, showcasing his adaptability and tactical awareness, allowing him to slot into various systems with ease. However, his long-term future as a player appears to be as a centre-forward, and potentially a prolific one at that.”
One for the future, then. Cummings won’t be solving the ‘Evan Ferguson’ problem then, when the loan striker’s deal ends this Summer. Maybe, if we are very lucky, the year after.
What it does signify is a huge shift of emphasis at West Ham where youngsters with the potential of a Mubama or Diangana might be coveted instead of discarded. For which, sporting director Mark Noble is to be congratulated.
Seeing as how Mark no longer cleans the changing rooms it is good to learn that he is earning his keep at West Ham United.
COYI
Off topic, anyone had a gander at Everton’s new ground! I have serious stadium envy.
There really needs to be a clause that if our current board sells, a ground redevelopment must be part of the buying clause (I can dream).
It’s going to be a hell of an atmosphere in that place.
Never been to London Stadium, other than to visit the club shop last time I was in the country.
It was always going to be a thankless task replacing Upton Park, and the deal we got on the LS is great, but, yeah, nah, I’m liking the look of the Toffees new home.
The new Everton stadium is only fifty thousand Neil whereas ours is sixty. Obviously they are not as massive as we are.
Naturally 👍⚒️
You don’t know that potter blooded Ferguson in the Brighton first team at 18 so I wouldn’t be so sure he’s a big lad in the Ferguson mould and give him a decent pre season he could well be ready
This is a good point.
Like learning to drive and passing your test doesn’t make you a good driver.
Experiencing situations which have not been encountered from a previously sheltered environment gives confidence.
Training ground will give indication but it’s not same as experience on a match day.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd have been forced into using academy players with some surprising results.
Money (apparently) has become a problem and it looks like whu are going to need to join ‘Academy Club’s.
In addition to academy players Luis Guilherme is another that needs to be given playing time (Brazilian).
One thing for sure these lads are going to need time and fans will have to be patient.
Let’s hope and pray for the new Frank Mcavennie
If your good enough your old enough…..didn’t Spain play a 16 yesr old in there NATIONAL team the last euroes…not bad was he ……same with our brazilian kid …I can’t see how making a decision about playing time purely through training ground methods can work …
Loads of players are totally different on the pitch than in training
..,but they get 5 or 6 min here and there at the end when we are most of the time losing …I mean what’s the point
Beware of hype. Sonny Perkins isn’t tearing up any trees at Leyton Orient and Callum Marshall isn’t banging them in at Huddersfield. And remember the last scoring sensation from Celtic, Armstrong Oko-flex? Where is he now? As for Diangana and Mubama being discarded, one was sold for a good price and is playing at his right level in the championship, and the other refused the new contract which he was offered.