On a weekend in which Callum Wilson opened his West Ham United account, a teenager who could yet be a future wearer of the club’s number nine shirt went one better.
Wilson, of course, was only ever intended to be a short-term solution.
West Ham signed the England international on a one-year deal shortly after his Newcastle deal expired.
And while the manner in which he finished off Nottingham Forest during a stunning Sunday on the banks of the Trent was certainly one in the eye of the critics who doubted the 33-year-old’s longevity, those who felt that West Ham United were guilty of kicking the proverbial can down the road signing Callum Wilson also had a point.
But who knows?
Perhaps by the time Wilson’s spell in claret and blue comes to an end next summer or maybe the year after – Hammers News understands that a 12-month extension is a possibility – Josh Landers will be ready to make the step up.
As Under-21 boss Mark Robson explains, Landers’ development is certainly heading in the right direction.
Mark Robson hails Josh Landers after his Under-21 breakout at West Ham United
West Ham, via their official website, introduced Josh Landers as a ‘tireless centre-forward’ when the teenager moved south of the border back in February.
Tireless, yes, and prolific too as it turns out.
The former Hibernian prospect made an immediate impression at Under-18 level in the second half of last season. And, in the early weeks of the current campaign, Landers has made the transition to the Under-21 stage like a duck to water.
A brace in the 4-2 victory over Sunderland last time out means the 18-year-old now has 12 goals in 19 matches since swapping Edinburgh for East London, per Soccerway.
Following some thrilling wingplay from Chukwuemeka Adiele, Landers opened his Under-21 account with a bouncing back-post header against the Black Cats.
A second would arrive only 17 minutes later. This time, it was Ezra Mayers making inroads down the line, while Landers’ emphatic finish nearly set the Sunderland net flying into the Wear.
“In the second half, the boys raised their quality in that final third and got their rewards. We created more chances than we had in previous games, and it was pleasing to see us be that bit more clinical,” Robson told the official West Ham website, Landers’ brace taking the game away from their hosts after Mohamadou Kante and Adiele had netted in the opening 45.
“The ball from Emeka [Adiele] for Josh’s header was excellent. And the move for his second, with Ezra getting forward and rolling it across the face of goal, is exactly the type of finish we’ve been talking about.”
Robson was keen to point out that there is a lot more in Landers’ game than goals, meanwhile.
“Josh took his goals really well and his overall game, especially his build-up play, was good too,” the coach added. “There’s still stuff we can work on, but I was delighted for him tonight.”
Fin Herrick and Junior Robinson leave on loan as West Ham land Dimitri Colau
On the final day of the transfer window, two of Robson’s starters left on loan in an attempt to build up their experience of competitive, first-team football.
Versatile defender Junior Robinson moves to Scotland with Livingston. Goalkeeper Fin Herrick has made ‘excellent’ progress behind the scenes of late, meanwhile, with Boreham Wood set to become the beneficiaries of his superb shot-stopping and vastly-improved distribution.
“Fin Herrick was top again [vs Sunderland],” Robson said. “He’s been outstanding for us over the last couple of seasons and has worked really hard with Billy Lepine [Head of Academy Goalkeeping], Steve [Potts] and Gerard [Prenderville].
“We’re really pleased with his development, and he’s at the point now where the next challenge, hopefully a loan, will be important for him.”
In Robinson’s place, meanwhile, could come Dimitri Colau.
Former France youth star Colau introduced himself to the West Ham faithful following his deadline day arrival from Ligue 1 newcomers Paris FC.
