When West Ham United U23s took on Benfica in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday, there were a number of stars on show all over the pitch at Billericay Town’s AGP Arena.
However it was two 15-year-olds – Josh Okotcha and Will Greenidge – who manager Terry Westley singled out as having impressed as they made their debuts at U23 level.
Full-back Greenidge stepped up from U16 level to play for the U18s earlier this season and his progress went one step further when he started at right-back against the Portuguese outfit.
The story was similar for Okotcha – who is 16 next month – and the centre-back looked solid against a number of experienced Benfica forwards.
Greenidge’s night ultimately ended in disappointment as he was replaced due to an Achilles injury, but Westley praised the pair for the way they dealt with the challenge.
“If you’re going to play Josh and Will in an U23 game, they have clearly done well at U16 and U18 level this season,” said the Academy Director. “They have been the two standouts. We were short defensively and it meant they got the opportunity.
They have been two standouts at U16 and U18 level. They got the opportunity and it was a chance for them. They certainly came out with credit
Terry Westley
“And it was a chance for them. You get a chance to show people what you can do. I was so disappointed for Will because he started so well. He looked very accomplished on the ball, had a good awareness of where he needed to be defensively and he grew into the game.
“He took a nasty Achilles injury which has been accessed today and it could be a while before he’s ready to come back.”
Benfica forward Alan Junior Oliveira – 24-years-old – scored both goals in the 2-0 victory for the visitors in the Hammers’ final match in the competition.
And Westley recognised the difficulty of the contest Okotcha, playing alongside U18 skipper Ben Wells, faced.
“For Josh, it was a real challenge and you have to concentrate all the game. You make errors at U16 and U18 level which you might get away with, but at our level and the next level up with the first team, you get punished.
“He knows he could have done better for the first goal but overall, playing that level of competition and surviving and doing well shows you have much he’s come on.
“We spoke at the end to the players about coming out of the game in credit and those two certainly did that.
“If you looked at the game in general, we all came out in the positive rather than the negative on Tuesday.”