Almost three years to the day that Callum Marshall first faced senior opposition for West Ham United U21s in a 2-0 EFL Trophy defeat at Stadium MK, the Northern Ireland international showed just how far he has come by netting a brace against the very same opponent in the very same competition.
“Well, I'd like to think I've progressed since my debut here!” Marshall joked. “I think that was my first game against senior opposition for West Ham. I thought we handled it really well today, especially the physical side. Having done a year in League One last year [on loan at Huddersfield Town], I said to the boys, 'If we can handle the physical bit, we’re going to be far better.'
After a hugely impressive campaign at U18s level in 2022/23, averaging a goal a game in a season which saw the young Hammers win the Premier League South and FA Youth Cup, Marshall made the step up to U21s football look effortless.
In fact, his first full campaign at development level yielded 16 goals in just 12 Premier League 2 matches. He was only overtaken as the competition’s leading scorer in the final week by Tottenham Hotspur’s Will Lankshear, despite spending half the season on loan at Championship side West Bromwich Albion.
His upward trajectory towards first team football continued last term with a loan at League One outfit Huddersfield, where he scooped the club’s Player of the Season award.
Back in Claret and Blue this year, Marshall opened his account for the senior side in their first pre-season game, a 3-1 victory over Grasshopper Club Zürich.
In anticipation of a first-team breakthrough, Academy graduate Marshall, eager to keep his sharpness at its peak, was handed competitive minutes in the Vertu Trophy and duly delivered with a second-half brace, which he insists, should have been a hat-trick.
“It was actually the first 90 minutes I’d played since the end of last season, so I needed that under my belt,” he admitted.
Reflecting on his goals, Marshall added: “The second one was a good ball in from Regan [Clayton]. It bounced a bit awkwardly, but I got around it well. I probably should have scored the one-on-one too. I was annoyed with myself for that one, I had too long to think about it. I should have gone around the goalkeeper. But I’m happy to get two in the end.”
The tireless pressing and selfless running that endeared him to Huddersfield fans were just as evident on Tuesday night. His work rate without the ball was every bit as valuable as his finishing touch in front of goal.
“It was great just to have the minutes,” he said. “Even if the U21s staff hadn’t asked me, I would have wanted to play anyway. I get on really well with the development coaches and I’m never too big to play in these games. If I need minutes and this is the place to do it, then I have no problem with that. I really enjoyed it. Hopefully it shows what I can do.”
