West Ham U21 Head Coach Mark Robson praised his team after a thrashing of MK Dons on Tuesday.

In a season that has been bleak for Hammers fans so far, there is finally something to be positive about as the youth talent continues to shine despite the first-team’s struggles.

West Ham social media was happy on Tuesday night in reaction to our U21’s excellent 5-1 win over MK Dons in the EFL Trophy. In a match where Fabianski made his Hammers return, it was the youngsters than took the headlines.

Mark Robson’s team won 5-1 thanks to doubles from both Preston Fearon and Callum Marshall, as well as an own goal from Laurence Maguire, brother of Manchester United England International defender Harry Maguire.

“The lads were really on it tonight. We played some excellent football and I thought we looked a really good outfit,” Under-21 coach Robson tells the club’s official website. It was great to have a couple of the older lads back in and getting some valuable game time.

“Freddie (Potts), George (Earthy), Callum (Marshall), they were all excellent.”

All three of those players have remained at the club this season after impressing on loan last season, the first two in the Championship and the latter in League One. They want to fight for their place and show they are ready for the first-team.

However, even though the experienced first-team players continue to let us down on the pitch, they are still yet to be given a chance. Earthy is understandable, he missed pre-season with an injury and is making his return. But the fact Marshall hasn’t played at all and Potts has only had pity minutes has to change.

“Callum’s work ethic is second to none,” Robson agrees. “He just never stops working. And I said to the boys at the end, that’s exactly what hard work gives you.”

“You look at the likes of Cal, George and Regan (Clayton, the full-back who spent last season at Dagenham and Redbridge) a couple of years down the line, after loan experiences in the Championship and League One, you can really see their qualities now.

“They did it properly tonight. They worked for the team and showed how much they’ve grown.

“In general, we clicked. We gelled. Some of our goals were top drawer and the football throughout was really pleasing. Overall, I thought it was an excellent performance.”

Another player that should be on the verge of the first-team call up after impressing consistently for the U21’s and in pre-season is Preston Fearon. The 18-year-old midfielder scored with two beautiful left-footed finishes on Tuesday and is definitely up there with the returning loanees in the push for Premier League game time.