Nuno Espirito Santo will need to rotate his West Ham United squad over the busy festive period and that could see him handing a debut to one of his academy prospects.
West Ham play four matches within the span of 10 days from 27 December to 6 January and it will be impossible for Nuno to name the same lineup for even back-to-back games.
Also, with the AFCON starting on 21 December, the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf will be unavailable.
Airidas Golambeckis can be given West Ham United debut soon
Airidas Golambeckis was signed by West Ham United at the pre-academy level in 2015, when he was an eight-year-old.
Since then, the defender-cum-midfielder has climbed up the ranks to become a key player and captain for the Under-21s side.
This season, the 18-year-old has played seven matches in the Premier League 2 campaign and has been a part of their starting eleven for 78 per cent of their games.
Golambeckis has also started in all three EFL Trophy matches and has been among the standout performers for the youth side.
- Born: 04/11/2007 (18 years old)
- Nationality: English (Lithuanian heritage – eligible for Lithuania)
- Position: Centre-back (can also play defensive midfield)
- International: England U19 (debut September 2025), previously England U18 and Lithuania U17
Given his versatility, games coming thick and fast and players leaving for international duty, it makes sense to integrate him into the first-team setup as soon as possible.
Rather than throwing him into the deep end, Nuno could start including him in matchday squads and ensure that he’s ready to step into the first-team fold as and when needed.
He’s also extremely tall, standing at 6ft 3in, so he could be a terrific addition to a side keen on improving on set pieces at both ends of the pitch.
Golambeckis has been lauded for his ‘Exemplary’ attitude
When he turned 18, the London-born player penned a four-year extension and not a customary two-year one, reflecting the faith shown in him by the club.
When he signed the contract, he was lauded by Kenny Brown, who is the club’s academy manager.
Brown told the club’s official website: “Airidas is where he is not only because of his footballing ability but also because of his exemplary attitude. They go hand in hand.
“To have a future in the game, you need to show the Academy values, and he displays them every day in the classroom, in the gym, on the pitch, and even away from here.”
The future seems bright for Golambeckis and fans surely cannot wait to see him in action for the first team.
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