Three of our West Ham United Academy players were in action this afternoon in international friendlies.
Airidas Golambeckis made his third start for England U19s in a 4-1 win over Belgium.
Our U21s captain, part of a highly talented group of Young Lions, many of whom have featured in the Premier League this season, has played the most amount of minutes of any defensive player for England U19s. Out of the whole squad, only Chelsea’s Shumaira Mheuka has played more this season.
The age group which is currently preparing for UEFA U19 European qualifiers next month are unbeaten so far this season, winning three of their friendlies, against Ukraine, the Netherlands and Belgium, and drawing one against Spain.
Mheuka’s opener and a 20-minute hat-trick from Tottenham Hotspur's Mikey Moore sealed a commanding win for Will Antwi's men who wrap up their October camp against Wales on Tuesday.
Also preparing for next month’s U19 Euro qualifiers, Hammers U18s captain Callum Leacock earned his first cap for Northern Ireland’s U19s age group.
Playing a year above, Leacock started in a 4-0 defeat to USA. The squad will be back in action tomorrow, also in Marbella, against Switzerland, their last game before November’s qualifiers where they have been drawn in Group 13 with Malta, Azerbaijan and Czechia.
Also in action for Northern Ireland in Spain was Joel Kerr for the U17s. The 16-year-old forward, who had captained Northern Ireland U17s on Thursday, came off the bench in their friendly, also against the USA.
In a delayed kick-off due to postponed fixtures from the day before because of weather warnings in southern Spain, the USA claimed a 2-0 victory at the Pinatar Arena. The result brings the camp to a conclusion for the U17s group and Kerr who will return to east London as the young Hammers gear up for their U18 Premier League South fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday 18 October at Little Heath.
