West Ham United’s first-team may have failed to make their XG dominance count against AFC Bournemouth, but Greg Lincoln’s reserves had no such problems in a 3-0 trouncing of Crystal Palace.
One week after academy hotshot Josh Ajala fired the Hammers into the National League Cup final, the Under-21s put in another impressive attacking display.
And Daniel Cummings – the former Celtic starlet rated so highly by Mark Noble – again offered another glimpse of his potential. Scotland Under-21 international Cummings had to wait until the end of 2025 to make his full debut for West Ham United’s second-string, due to a troublesome shoulder injury.
Fortunately, Fabrizio Romano was very wrong…
What should the next steps for Josh Ajala be at West Ham?
He is putting those fitness issues firmly in the rear-view mirror now, though. Cummings scored a stunner against Anderlecht a fortnight ago, and he followed that up with a smooth first-time finish to put the Hammers ahead after the break against London neighbours Crystal Palace at Rush Green.
Daniel Cummings scores as West Ham United cruise past Crystal Palace
This was Cummings’ sixth appearance in Premier League 2, but only his first start.
Fellow Scot Josh Landers started the season in exceptional style – he even racked up a 17-minute hat-trick against Brighton – but the returning Cummings is now ensuring there will be an intriguing battle for the centre-forward spot in Lincoln’s XI.
Lewis Orford and Preston Fearon also found the net in a commanding win. West Ham move up to tenth in the 29-strong Premier League 2 table despite being without the likes of Callum Marshall and George Earthy following January loan moves.
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