Daily WHUFC News - 6th October 2017

Hammers youngster Scully frustrated in Euro U19 opener
WHUFC.com

West Ham United youngster Anthony Scully kicked-off the Hammers' busy
international schedule by starting for Republic of Ireland U19s on Wednesday
evening.
The midfielder played the opening 71 minutes of the Boys in Green's goalless
2018 UEFA European U19 Championship qualifying round Group 7 draw with
Azerbaijan in Waterford. The Irish dominated at the Regional Sports Centre,
creating 13 goal attempts to their opponents' four, but were unable to find
a way past Azeri goalkeeper Murad Popov. And when Tom Mohan's side were
reduced to ten men with six minutes remaining, the home side settled for a
point from their first of three qualifying matches. Scully, who does not
turn 18 until December, will hope for a better result when Ireland host
Cyprus at the same venue on Saturday evening. The Cypriots were beaten 1-0
by Serbia in their opening fixture. Ireland will complete their Group 7
schedule when they take on Serbia at the RSC next Tuesday afternoon, with
the top two qualifying for the Elite Round.

The final eight-team tournament, which was won by Nathan Trott and England
in 2017, will take place in Finland next summer.

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Gary Lewin: This is a key fortnight for several players
WHUFC.com

For Gary Lewin, international football became a way of life during his
20-year career as physiotherapist for the England national team. The
relationships and expertise Lewin gained in that role are now benefitting
West Ham United in his role as head of medical services. With a dozen
Hammers away representing their countries all over the world, and 14 more
back at Rush Green preparing for the Premier League trip to Burnley, Lewin
revealed the challenges a top club faces during an international break…

This is no international 'break'!

The term 'international break' is inaccurate as for the medical services
team here at West Ham United, it is a busy time. While we come away from the
pressures of the Premier League for a fortnight, the 'break' from domestic
fixtures gives us the opportunity to work closely with players at Rush
Green. With less players around, the staff can work one-to-one with players
who need treatment or rehabilitation work, and also those who have recently
returned from injury and need extra work to improve their fitness levels.
These two weeks will be key for the likes of Pedro Obiang, James Collins and
Domingos Quina, who will receive treatment on a daily basis. He may have
returned and played against Swansea on Saturday, but Manuel Lanzini has only
recently returned from injury and will do extra work to raise his fitness
levels ahead of the Burnley game a week on Saturday. Likewise, Edimilson
Fernandes is back in full training with the group and will work on building
up his fitness over the coming days. So, while the Premier League may be
taking a break, that is certainly not the case for the staff and players at
Rush Green.

Relationships and communication are key

The process of our players being called-up for international duty starts the
week before the squads are announced, when we get calls from the countries
concerned. We provide information about any injuries or illnesses they may
be suffering from and give them our information on any rehabilitation or
treatment they will need, and also share our thoughts on training loads,
strength and conditioning programmes and, when the match is a friendly,
their match minutes. We have got quite a good relationship with most
countries and it is essentially about exchanging information. For example,
Marko Arnautovic was ill and missed the Swansea game, so we were in contact
with the Austrian Football Association medical team and kept them informed,
and he recovered in time to accept the call-up and join up with his national
squad. When the players go away, we keep in regular contact with both them
and their national team medical staff via text message and every one of them
is required to report any issues they may suffer as soon as possible after
the relevant training session or game. Having followed this process with my
previous club and also combined that role with that of England
physiotherapist for 20 years, I have got to know the international medical
staff working for other countries well, meaning I have a good relationship
with, for example, the Austrian doctor or the Swiss physio. With players
scattered all over the world, it is very important to have good lines of
communication and understanding and we are fortunate that we have that at
West Ham.

All our thoughts are focused on Burnley

Our international players will all return at different times, as the match
calendar is now staggered, rather than all countries playing on the same
night like they did a few years ago. So, we need to plan for each individual
player returning and schedule their training, strength and conditioning,
fitness and recovery sessions accordingly. As a staff, we work backwards
from the Burnley game, because while players may be representing their
countries in important international fixtures, the needs to West Ham United
are always at the front of our thoughts. At the same time, we have ten
first-team players training fully at Rush Green this week and it is our job
to ensure they are at optimum fitness level for the Burnley match, while
also giving them a few days off to recharge mentally and physically. The
overall aim is that, by next Friday, everyone is at the same level and
available for selection at Turf Moor.

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Noble & Byram surprise Chinese super-fan
WHUFC.com

West Ham United captain Mark Noble surprised super fan Pan Xiang during a
recent visit to Rush Green in celebration of the Chinese Mid-Autumn
Festival. Having met Noble and posted a picture on social media, which the
skipper shared on Twitter, West Ham invited Pan Xiang and his wife, Zhang
Yingwen, to come to the Rush Green training facility under the guise of an
interview about his love for the club. During the interview Noble and Sam
Byram interrupted Xiang to congratulate the supporter and his wife on their
recent marriage and to share in some mooncakes, a bakery snack associated
with the festival.

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Oxford helps England U20s thrash Italy
WHUFC.com

Reece Oxford helped England U20s to a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Italy's
equivalent youth side on Thursday afternoon. The West Ham United defender,
currently on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, completed 80 minutes for the
young Lions in Gorgonzola as they ran out comfortable winners in the
international friendly. The defender started while Nathan Trott, the
Hammers' first choice U23 stopper, was on the bench with Bournemouth
goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks. England took the lead after
just five minutes when Benfica forward Chris Willock – who joined the
Portuguese outfit after leaving Arsenal this summer – broke the deadlock.
The Azzurri were back on level terms ten minutes later though, Cesena man
Guiseppe Panico equalised.

Tottenham Hotspur man Marcus Edwards ensured England regained the lead on 22
minutes however, and the visitors added a third ten minutes before the break
through FC Twente's Isaac Buckley-Ricketts. Then, two goals in four minutes
courtesy of captain Easah Sulliman – a defender – and Barnsley's Ike Ugbo
ensured the young Lions would see out the win. Oxford was replaced – after
being booked – by Charlton Athletic defender Ezri Konsa with ten minutes
remaining, but the win marked his fourth appearance for the U20s in total.
The side are back in action again on Tuesday, with Czech Republic this time
the opponents at St. George's Park in another friendly clash.

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Arthur Masauku's screamer is your Goal of the Month
WHUFC.com

Arthur Masuaku's brilliant long-ranged strike in West Ham United's 3-0 win
over Bolton Wanderers has been selected as your Goal of the Month for
September.
The left-back fired an unstoppable rocket from 25 yards in the dying embers
of our Carabao Cup win against the Championship side on September 19, giving
the Hammers a 3-0 victory. The finish marked Masuaku's first goal for West
Ham and the 23-year-old's maiden effort will also be remembered as
September's Goal of the Month, as voted for by supporters. Thousands of
supporters registered their choices through our official West Ham social
media channels - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - and Masuaku's goal was
the resounding winner, collecting 68% of all votes. The defender was up
against Cheikhou Kouyate's bullet header against Tottenham, Diafra Sakho's
winning goal against Swansea City and Martin Samuelsen's sweeping finish in
the U23s victory at Sunderland.

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Vash back and hoping to grow Holland partnership
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's Vashon Neufville returned to action after three weeks off
with injury, but was unable to help stop a ruthless Villarreal side who ran
out 3-0 winners in the Premier League International Cup on Wednesday
evening. The left-back, who has become a mainstay in Terry Westley's side
this year, had been out since early September with a hamstring injury but
came back to produce one of the more impressive displays on what proved a
tough evening for the Hammers. "It's good to be back fit, I was out for a
little while but now I feel good" he explained. Conor Coventry was cheaply
dispossessed in midfield and it cost the Hammers dearly as Adrian Dalmau
scored the first of his three on the night just 15 seconds from kick-off.
The Segunda B outfit were a constant threat and Neufville highlighted one
area of the game where their visitors were particularly impressive. "They
were very good, they played a lot of one-two touch, moved it quickly and
made things very hard for us." he said. "They played a different kind of
style to how we're used to in England, but in terms of moving the ball, it
is a style that we try to play. "They had a lot of players in the middle of
the park and didn't really play wide all that much. It was pretty congested
in the middle."

Despite probably deserving all three points, a 3-0 score line certainly
flattered the visitors with the Hammers going close on multiple occasions.
On another night Neufville felt things could have been different: "We had a
few chances, some at key times in the game, [Jahmal Hector-Ingram's] one off
the line, but we couldn't take them and they did – that was the difference."

In his post-match reaction, Academy Director Terry Westley praised Neufville
and Nathan Holland for their contribution and for the defender, it was good
to re-form a partnership which had started the season so impressively.
"Yeah, it was nice playing on that left side with Nathan again" Neufville
explained. "I think we tried to make things happen. We have a good
relationship on and off the pitch, he's a good friend, and I think that is
helping both of us when we play. Hopefully it can get better and better."

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West Ham set to ditch their backing of the 'Big Six' in Premier League's
overseas TV rights war
The Hammers were one of three sides set to back a new system where overseas
TV money is part-distributed on the basis of league position
The M irror
BYANDY DUNN
15:48, 5 OCT 2017

West Ham are ready to ditch their backing of the Big Six in the TV cash row
that is threatening to destabilise the Premier League. Their defection would
be a big blow to the clubs wanting a bigger slice of overseas television
rights. West Ham were seen as one of the few clubs outside the Big Six who
would agree a compromise meaning TV money from abroad would be
part-distributed on the basis of league finishing positions. Yet even though
Wednesday's summit meeting was adjourned with no decision being made, Mirror
Sport understands West Ham are now reconsidering their original position.
Along with Everton and Leicester City, they were one of three clubs ready to
back the Big Six. But that is set to change, meaning the chances of the two
Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool forcing through a
new system by a simple vote seems unlikely. A revamp would need the support
of 14 clubs.

However, that will not be the end of it. Behind the scenes, Premier League
officials and chief executives expect the money generated by overseas rights
to rocket over the next couple of decades, even dwarfing the enormous
domestic packages. The Big Six want a bigger share and even if, as expected,
any vote goes against them at next month's Premier League meeting, they will
not let it lie.

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LANZINI TO UP HIS RECOVERY EFFORTS AHEAD OF BURNLEY CLASH
LUKE OSMAN @LukeOsmanRS

West Ham are set to be boosted ahead of their clash against Burnley, with
Manuel Lanzini upping his efforts to make a full return. The Argentina
international made his return from injury on Saturday afternoon in West
Ham's 1-0 win over Swansea, but is still yet to reach full fitness. He came
off the bench with 27 minutes still to play, and helped the Hammers
consolidate what was an important victory. Gary Lewin, the head of West
Ham's medical department, has delivered a positive update on Lanzini's
fitness in recent times too. As quoted by Football London, Lewin stated that
the creative midfielder will take part in extra fitness work in order to
shape up for the Burnley clash after the international break. Manuel Lanzini
has only recently returned from injury and will do extra work to raise his
fitness levels ahead of the Burnley game. With less players around, the
staff can work one-to-one with players who need treatment or rehabilitation
work, and also those who have recently returned from injury and need extra
work to improve their fitness levels. Lanzini has been a big loss to West
Ham during the opening stages of the season and it's sure to come as a big
bonus for Slaven Bilic if he is available to start against the Clarets.

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What Carlo Ancelotti said about West Ham United's Javier Hernandez
HITC
Shane Callaghan

West Ham United have been linked with Carlo Ancelotti. According to The
Guardian, Carlo Ancelotti is in the running to replace under-pressure West
Ham United manager Slaven Bilic in East London. The legendary Italian coach
was sacked by Bayern Munich last week and speculation has mounted that West
Ham could turn to him if they and Bilic part ways. The Irons are 15th in the
Premier League table after picking up only seven points from seven games and
the Croat has it all to do in order to turn things around. Ancelotti would
be an inspired appointment based on his illustrious managerial career which
includes three Champions League crowns and various top-flight league titles
from his time in Italy, England, France and Germany. That on its own is
enough to excite West Ham fans, but Hammers supporters should also look
forward to the prospect of summer signing Javier Hernandez enjoying an
upturn in fortunes if the former Real Madrid coach was to get the job. Head
coach Carlo Ancelotti of FC Bayern Muenchen attends the Audi Cup 2017 Press
Conference at Westin Grand Hotel on July 31, 2017 in Munich, Germany.

Hernandez previously played under Ancelotti in the Spanish capital and the
58-year-old praised the Mexican hitman in 2015, describing him as a
"non-negotiable" after extending his goal-laden form. He said to The
Guardian: "He's enjoying the run that he's on, it's a really good one. If
Chicharito is in this form he's non-negotiable. I have a team of
non-negotiables but only 11 can play and the rest stay on the bench."
Hernandez spent much of that season behind Karim Benzema in the pecking
order under Ancelotti, though he did produce when called upon - a late
winner in a Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid springs
to mind - but a reunion could see him deliver his best form after being
played on the wing for much of the season under Bilic.

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Pedro Obiang, Edimilson Fernandes, James Collins - injured West Ham players
and their expected returns
The Hammers injury woes have eased in recent weeks but there are still a few
out
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
11:52, 5 OCT 2017

West Ham over the past season and a bit seemed to have been consistently
fend off injury problems that would threaten to derail their season. Every
week, it was like Slaven Bilic was forced into making at least a change or
two as players picked up knocks in training, added on to players that were
also out for long periods of time like Andy Carroll and Michail Antonio.
This season though, Carroll has managed to stay injury free since his return
to action but Manuel Lanzini has missed a lot of game time through a knee
problem he picked up in pre-season. There are just the four players injured
or unavailable at the moment as we embark on the international break but
there is no real long-term absentees at the London Stadium.

Here's who is injured and when we can expect them to return.

Pedro Obiang
Injury - Muscular problem
Out since - September 16th
Expected return date - October 15

James Collins
Injury - ankle ligament damage
Out since - September 16
Expected return date: October 28

What Bilic said: "It's a big blow. It looked worse, to be fair, and it
looked like being a few months but, touch wood, it's only going to be a
couple of weeks. He just did the scan and it's not ideal, of course, but I
expected far worse based on how he got injured."

Edimilson Fernandes
Injury - Ankle
Out since - September 26
Expected return - October 14
What Bilic has said: "He is progressing well and should resume full training
in the next few days."

Marko Arnautovic
Injury - Illness
Out since - September 30
Expected return - October 14

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CROSSED HAMMERS & THREE LIONS: ALAN DEVONSHIRE
By Dan Coker 5 Oct 2017 at 08:00
WTID

Welcome to the fifth in a series of articles designed for international
weekends – a look back at former Hammers players who wore the Three Lions of
England. Today, as England prepare to face Slovenia at Wembley, we look back
at arguably one of the Hammers' most skilful players of all-time – Alan
Devonshire.

Dev was born in Park Royal, north-west London on the 13th April 1956 and
started his career with non-league Southall while working as a fork-lift
truck driver at the Hoover Factory in Perivale having been rejected twice by
Crystal Palace for being too small. He joined West Ham United for a paltry
£5,000 in 1976 and made his debut on the 27th October that year in a 2-0
home defeat to Q.P.R. in the fourth round of the League Cup. In his debut
season, the supporters named the 21-year-old Devonshire as runner-up to
Trevor Brooking in the voting for the 1976/77 Hammer of the Year. Devonshire
and Brooking would go on to enjoy a fantastically entertaining, almost
telepathic, partnership at the club.

Dev's first goals for the club came on the 12th November 1977 as he struck
twice in a 3-3 draw with West Brom at the Boleyn Ground but his efforts in
that 1977/78 season could not prevent the Hammers from being relegated.
Devonshire scored five goals in 43 appearances and was voted Hammer of the
Year as his silky skills helped the Hammers finish fifth in the Second
Division in 1978/79. An attacking left-sided midfielder who possessed
tremendous dribbling skills and the ability to beat a series of players in
quick succession, it was Devonshire who gave West Ham the lead in the FA Cup
semi-final replay against Everton in 1980 – Frank Lampard later ensuring the
Hammers' successful path through to the Final after Bob Latchford had
equalised.

Devonshire became an FA Cup winner at Wembley, his run and cross eventually
leading to Brooking heading what would prove to be the winner against
Arsenal. Later that month, Devonshire made his England debut under Ron
Greenwood in a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland. The presence of Glenn
Hoddle often blocked Devonshire's path to the England team and he would only
go on to win eight caps for his country, missing out on a place in
Greenwood's squad for the 1982 World Cup and making his final appearance
under Bobby Robson against Luxembourg towards the end of 1983.

West Ham did win promotion in 1980/81, with a two-goal salvo in a 5-0
triumph over Preston proving to be a particular highlight and the start of
five goals in five games for Devonshire. His double in the Preston match,
the fourth and fifth goals of the game, can be viewed in my video below. He
would also play in the League Cup Final that season but the Hammers were
beaten by Liverpool in a replay.

The Hammers consolidated as a top-flight club and Devonshire would go on to
play a part in the Boleyn Ground's biggest-ever winning scoreline as he
scored twice in the 10-0 League Cup second round second leg win over Bury.
However, less than three months later, on the 7th January 1984, disaster
struck for Dev as he snapped three ligaments in his right knee in a 1-0 FA
Cup third round win over Wigan. He would not play again for 14 months but
broke down in his second game back, a 5-1 FA Cup fifth round replay win
against Wimbledon.

Devonshire made a full comeback from the start of the 1985/86 season as the
Hammers marched to a third-place finish, the club's highest ever. He had
lost some of his pace but his creative nous had not waned. He made 47 starts
in all competitions that season and 27 in the following campaign. His
stunning strike at Chelsea opened the scoring with the Hammers going on to
record a memorable 4-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in March 1986.

1987/88 was to be another injury nightmare for Dev however as he snapped his
Achilles tendon 15 minutes into the opening game against Q.P.R. He would
again be out of action for over a year. The Hammers were in decline when he
returned and would be relegated in 1988/89, with Devonshire making 20 league
starts. John Lyall, with whom Devonshire had won an FA Cup, promotion to the
First Division, experienced European football and a third-placed finish, was
sacked. Devonshire did not see too much action under Lou Macari and he
deserved better than the finish to his West Ham career that he had to
endure, with his final game being the 6-0 defeat at Oldham in the League Cup
semi-final first leg. At the age of 34, Devonshire was granted a free
transfer by new manager Billy Bonds in May 1990 – he had made 448
appearances in all competitions for West Ham United, scoring 32 goals.

My video below showcases 14 of Dev's 32 goals in a West Ham shirt.

Devonshire signed for Watford, where he played for two years, making 27
appearances and scoring one goal, before retiring as a player in 1992. Now
61, Dev is now a highly-respected manager at non-league level having accrued
vast experience over a number of years. He started at Maidenhead United
before moving on to Hampton & Richmond Borough. He spent four years at
Braintree Town, making the part-time outfit a competitive force in the
National League (formerly the Conference), a division which contains a
number of professional clubs. Dev, who was strongly linked with a move into
the Football League with Colchester two years ago, is now back with
Maidenhead who currently lie 13th in the National League having gained
promotion by winning the National League South under Devonshire last season.

England v Slovenia

England face Slovenia on Thursday in a World Cup 2018 qualifier – it will be
the sixth meeting between the two nations. Joe Hart and Aaron Cresswell are
both in the squad, fresh from being part of a Hammers defence which has kept
three clean sheets in the last four Premier League matches.

England's only previous competitive match against Slovenia at Wembley
resulted in a 3-1 win for the Three Lions in a Euro 2016 qualifier in front
of 82,305 at Wembley on 15th November 2014. Cheryl was number one with 'I
Don't Care', Interstellar topped the UK box office and the last ceramic
poppy had just been laid at the Tower of London memorial art installation to
join the 888,245 flowers commemorating the armistice and centenary of the
First World War.

The visitors scored the opening goal three minutes before the hour mark –
Omonoia winger Andraz Kirm curled in an angled free-kick which Liverpool's
Jordan Henderson turned into his own net.

Just two minutes later, England skipper Wayne Rooney, winning his 100th cap,
was brought down in the penalty area and converted the resulting spot-kick
himself. Roy Hodgson's England were ahead on 66 minutes through a scuffed
strike by Danny Welbeck, before the Arsenal striker doubled his tally six
minutes later after neat interplay with Liverpool's Raheem Sterling to round
off the scoring and complete England's 3-1 victory.

England: Joe Hart (Man City), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Gary Cahill
(Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson
(Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney
(captain, Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

Subs: James Milner (Man City) for Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)
for Sterling, Chris Smalling (Man Utd) for Jagielka.

Slovenia: Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan), Bostjan Cesar (captain, Chievo),
Andraz Struna (PAS Giannina), Branko Ilic (Partizan Belgrade), Andraz Kirm
(Omonoia), Jasmin Kurtic (Fiorentina), Ales Mertelj (Maribor), Miso Brecko
(Cologne), Kevin Kampl (Red Bull Salzburg), Valter Birsa (Chievo), Milivoje
Novakovic (Shimizu S Pulse).

Subs: Dejan Lazarevic (Chievo) for Birsa, Rajko Rotman (Istanbul Basaksehir)
for Kurtic, Zlatan Ljubijankic (Omiya Ardija) for Kirm.

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Three youngsters West Ham should loan out in January including Toni Martinez
HITC
Vincent Ralph

West Ham United are not using their young prospects so January loan stints
may be best for all concerned. West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic rarely
gives chances to the club's young players despite the Hammers having some of
the most talented prospects in the country.

Here we take a look at three under-23 players West Ham should send out on
loan in January if they have no intention of giving them minutes with the
senior side.

Toni Martinez

Spanish forward Toni Martinez is far too good for West Ham's second string,
scoring 18 goals in 20 appearances for their under-23s. He enjoyed a loan
spell at Oxford United last season, where his exploits in FA Cup matches
against Middlesbrough and Newcastle United caught the attention, and yet for
now Bilic continues to overlook the 20-year-old. If that continues to be the
case, he needs to be sent out on loan to continue his development,
potentially to a Championship side.

Nathan Holland

Arguably the cream of the crop when it comes to West Ham's academy, winger
Nathan Holland got a run-out in the EFL Cup against Bolton Wanderers earlier
this season. Although more chances are expected in due course, his failure
to make the bench in the league this season suggests he is still some way
off a breakthrough. A six-month loan to a League One side could be ideal for
the talented wide man.

Martin Samuelsen

While fellow midfielder Domingos Quina is expected to get more first-team
chances in the coming months, the same cannot be said for Martin Samuelsen.
The Norwegian has slipped down the pecking order after some poor loan spells
followed his initial promising stint at Peterborough United, but the only
way to get the best out of him will be to send him back out where he can
play regular football and rediscover his confidence.

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Rice grateful to talent scout O'Toole for helping his swift rise
Irishindependant.ie
John Fallon
October 5 2017 2:30 AM


Declan Rice counts John Terry and Roy Keane amongst his heroes but the
influence of another less conspicuous man bodes well for Irish football.
Mark O'Toole was earlier this week name-checked by Aiden O'Brien for
kick-starting his international career and while the ongoing ascent of West
Ham United's Rice is more rapid, the FAI's most successful English-based
scout is centrally involved. The English FA, fresh from almost losing
Brummie Jack Grealish to Ireland, have applied a more dedicated approach to
monitoring dual-nationality prospects and it is inevitable they will
intensify efforts to dissuade Rice from closing the option of switching to
his homeland.

The 18-year-old added to the Premier League debut he earned on the final day
of last season by clocking up six more outings for the Hammers so far this
season.
On merit alone, there is a solid argument for him being part of the senior
squad but Martin O'Neill feels the sampler he got during a training camp in
Cork just days after that bow at Burnley is sufficient for now.

That full cap could come next month in a friendly, should the World Cup
campaign cease in Cardiff on Monday, and it would be fully deserved in the
context of rebuilding the squad, be it O'Neill or a successor at the helm.
Satisfied

London-born but declared for Ireland since 16 through his Cork-born
grandparents, Rice is satisfied with where his international career rests.
This evening at Tallaght Stadium, he'll win his second cap for the U-21s in
their European Championship qualifier against Norway (7.45), with another
fixture against Israel to come at the same venue on Monday. Nothing more
than extending Ireland's winning start in the campaign to four games
consumes the thoughts of Rice and, with O'Toole maintaining contact outside
of international gatherings, an uninterrupted graduation looks likely for
one of the Premier League's breakthrough gems.

"I'm still eligible for Ireland's Under-19s so I don't expect to be in the
senior squad full-time," he confessed. "I really enjoyed working with Martin
O'Neill and Roy in Cork. Roy maybe didn't get the recognition he deserved in
England as a player but to me he was an icon. "I'm very happy to be with the
U-21s. Mark O'Toole from the FAI has looked after me well back in England to
the point that I consider him a father figure. "Mark always told me my
chance with Ireland would come once I worked hard and he was right."

Irish Independent

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Redknapp calls for Arthur Masuaku and Diafra Sakho to start for West Ham
against Burnley
The Sky Sports pundit has had his say on the Hammers duo
Football London
BYALASDAIR GOLD
06:30, 5 OCT 2017

Jamie Redknapp believes that Arthur Masuaku and Diafra Sakho must start for
West Ham United in their next Premier League match against Burnley. The duo
impressed in the 1-0 victory against Swansea City after coming off the bench
and Sky Sports pundit Redknapp mentioned the pair in his latest column in
the Daily Mail. The former England international wrote after the game: "You
wouldn't know it from the pressure he has been under but Slaven Bilic has
the best points-per-game ratio of any West Ham manager in the Premier
League. "His 1.37 points per game puts him ahead of Alan Curbishley on 1.32
and my dad on 1.31. Despite a poor performance against Swansea, Bilic
deserves credit for changing the game by sending on super subs Diafra Sakho
and Arthur Masuaku. "They gave West Ham much more energy and purpose in the
final third and both should start at Burnley in the club's first game after
the international break."

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