Who knows what West Ham United’s current crop of homegrown talent – from Freddie Potts to Lewis Orford, Callum Marshall to Ollie Scarles – will go on to achieve in the Premier League and beyond.
While Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Malick Diouf have a World Cup to look forward to on the international stage, the next step in the development of Potts and co should be a regular first-team spot in the West Ham United side at club level.
International honours, for now, can wait.
But that does not mean a host of Hammers kids cannot harbour World Cup dreams of their own. Scarles has already been capped by England at Under-20 level. Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill is delighted with Marshall’s progress.
Thomas Tuchel even took a closer look at Lewis Orford back in September. While the midfielder awaits his first minutes on loan at Stevenage, that he was given the chance to train with the Three Lions’ senior squad at St George’s Park speaks volumes about how highly he is regarded even outside of the Rush Green walls.
Then again, even if Orford, Marshall and Scarles do not quite make the grade in East London, Joseph Anang’s involvement in the 2026 ‘Festival of Football’ should inspire everyone who falls slightly short.
Joseph Anang set for World Cup chance two years after West Ham United exit
Now 25, goalkeeper Anang could find himself in a very exclusive club by the time next summer rolls around.
Footballers plying their trade in the League of Ireland Premier Division, while representing Ghana on the world stage, do not come around too often.
Once very highly regarded in youth circles – Chelsea and Celtic reportedly wanted Anang before he signed professional terms in 2020 – the Accra-born glovesman eventually crossed the sea in pursuit of opportunities he was struggling to find this side of the water.
Anang left West Ham for St Patrick’s Athletic when his contract expired in the summer of 2024. Now playing European football, racking up a century of career appearances, and seemingly bound for the World Cup with Ghana, the one-time England youth stopper is proving that there is treasure to be found in a land relatively few footballers would consider exploring in their mid-20s.
Anang, who switched his international allegiance to Ghana a year ago, is yet to actually make his debut for the Black Stars. But, part of the squad for each of the last two international breaks, he had a very good view from the substitute’s bench as Ghana secured their fate with a 1-0 win over Comoros on Sunday.
Should he feature between the sticks in next summer’s tournament, then, Anang would have made more World Cup appearances than during his entire seven-month spell at West Ham.
Anang explains how leaving West Ham for Ireland has helped his career
Joseph Anang is now just nine away from 100 appearances for St Patrick’s Athletic.
He played European football this season too, the Dublin-based outfit reaching the third-round of qualifying before a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir.
“The coaches focus more on players playing in big leagues or against decent opponents. I think [the Ghana bosses] are watching me playing in Europe more than in the league,” Anang, who helped St Pat’s past Swiss club FC Vaduz and Sabah FC of Azerbaijan before running into Basaksehir, told The Sun.
He also feels his inclusion in the current Black Cats selection was partly down to cutting ties with the Hammers.
“The Ghana FA and I have been in contact since I was at West Ham,” Anang added back in July. “But I wasn’t playing back then so they couldn’t really pull the trigger. But, for the past year, I’ve been playing. That’s why I was able to get a call-up.
“[My first call-up] was great, a great experience. I didn’t go into it thinking I might get a chance. But I’m ready if the chance comes.”
Former West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus is among those who will be part of Ghana’s 2026 World Cup squad, fitness and form permitting. Leicester veteran Jordan Ayew and Bournemouth talisman Antoine Semenyo are also among Anang’s international teammates.
