West Ham’s talent – “England recognition feels inevitable” | You’ll not guess who!

West Ham’s performance against Arsenal at the weekend has attracted plaudits from across the fan base, club sites such as Claret and Hugh – but also much further afield.

Roshane Thomas writing in the nytimes.com has singled out one West Ham star who he feels is bound for England selection, claiming it to to be ‘inevitable’.

Not written about Aaron Wan-Bissaka, he of the telescopic leg tackles and incredible mazy wing-back lung-bursting runs. Although Wan Bissaka’s claim to the England right back sir is strong. Nor is it written about Jarrod Bowen who surely must feature in Tuchel’s immediate plans, with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka sidelined.

Thomas wrote:“At left-back for West Ham, Ollie Scarles showed why senior England recognition feels inevitable. The 19-year-old full-back, a young version of Aaron Cresswell, has amassed seven caps from under-16 to under-18 level. On a day when Arsenal’s 18-year-old full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, also pushing for an England call-up, received a red card, Scarles continued to play with the maturity of an experienced professional.”

Which might be a little previous, even though I say it – Scarles still feeling his way into the West Ham side and competing with Emerson Palmieri for the starting berth is still learning his trade and could do with a year being the first pick at London Stadium before piling even more pressure onto his young shoulders.

But clearly, he is an exceptional talent who, remember, couldn’t even get into the starting eleven under Potter’s predecessor. Fabulous to see another academy product doing so well and getting the cheers from the away fans on Saturday.

The sky’s the limit for Scarles and the really exciting thing is that he is the first of many now pushing for inclusion into the first team squad. Further progress under the youth-friendly Potter regime suddenly seems likely and then – that England call up can be celebrated by West Ham fans – why not all three next year though, Wan Bissaka, Bowen and Scarles? Now there’s a thought.