It has become increasingly rare for players to publicly declare their allegiance to clubs but one West Ham star has bucked the trend.
A footballer’s career is a short one.
So you can’t blame some of them for wanting to maximise their potential, success and earnings.
But it’s rather depressing that fewer players seem to be committing themselves to clubs like West Ham for the long-term.
Whenever West Ham find or produce a top player there is an air of inevitability they will leave.
Just as soon as Hammers fans are enjoying their talents so starts speculation they are going elsewhere.
Declan Rice was the latest example of that, Mohammed Kudus is already threatening to be the next.
It’s not just top senior players, though.
Young starlets who have been with West Ham from seven or eight are even moving on believing the grass is greener elsewhere.
A host of top talent has left West Ham’s Academy for the likes of Man City, Arsenal and other rival clubs in recent years.
That’s not a good look for the self-styled Academy of Football.
Fortunately for the Hammers, few have gone on to be roaring successes elsewhere as yet.
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen bucked a trend by not only signing a new seven-year deal last year but by publicly stating he loves the club and wants to retire here.
It made big news not just because he’s a top class player but because it’s so rare to hear nowadays.
There’s always that nagging feeling with many players that they – or their agents – have one eye on “something better” the moment they do well or hit a bit of form.
So it should be celebrated when the opposite is true.
Now one top young star has said he’s loved at West Ham and has absolutely no intention of leaving.
If there is one area of the West Ham squad that is in serious need of an overhaul in the coming months and years it is up front.
The current strike-force of Niclas Fullkrug, Michail Antonio and Danny Ings has a combined age approaching 100. That’s aside from their various injury issues and question marks over whether they suit the system.
Divin Mubama and Sonny Perkins are just two young striker stars who have left the Hammers for greener pastures in recent years.
Both felt their career progression would be better served elsewhere by joining Man City and Leeds respectively.
There are high hopes for the next striker cab on the rank in West Ham’s Academy – Callum Marshall.
Except this young star loves it at West Ham and very much sees his future in claret and blue.
The 19-year-old – currently on loan at Huddersfield – has been called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the October internationals.
And he has declared West Ham love him and he loves them.
“They love me at West Ham,” Marshall told The Mirror.
“I have really good relationships with all the staff around the Under-21s and get on well with Mark Noble.
“I have another three years on my contract so hopefully at the end of this season, I go back having had a lot more experience of league football and playing against men.
“Hopefully that will give me a good chance to push on with them.
“We had a great youth team, so they already know what I’m about with my finishing and my ability. As a youngster you need to play men’s football regularly and get used to that. That’s the plan.”
How refreshing that is to hear from a young player.
With Antonio and Ings likely in their last seasons with the club, there will certainly be room for Marshall to prove his worth in the not-too-distant future.
And it will be all the sweeter for him and West Ham as the reward for some long overdue patience and loyalty.
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