It wouldn’t be West Ham United without an injury scare to one of their brightest prospects marring an otherwise enjoyable 5-0 victory.
James Collins, on co-commentary duty during Wednesday’s five-star blitz of Stevenage, certainly feared the worst when Airidas Golambeckis hit the turf towards the end at Broadhall Way.
By his own admission, the former West Ham United stalwart felt his career was in the balance when he ruptured his ACL in 2008. And when Tomas Soucek fell to the ground in agony during the World Cup earlier this summer, the Hammers looked to have another, deja vu-inducing absence on their hands.
A 5-star showing in Stevenage! Who stood out most to you?
Goals for JWP, Taty, Orford, Ajala and newbie Murphy ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽
Fortunately, Collins would come back stronger, Soucek faces weeks out rather than months, and Golambeckis not only walked off but broke into a mini jog as Nuno breathed a sigh of relief in Hertfordshire.
Airidas Golambeckis impresses as West Ham United thrash Stevenage
On a night when Josh Ajala, Lewis Orford and Jett Murphy all scored – the claret and blue kids are alright, indeed – their towering 18-year-old centre-back not only passed his latest audition but appeared to avoid a fate reminiscent of Collins’ two decades prior.
“[Golambeckis] has been excellent all game, and hopefully it’s not too bad,” Collins said during the live coverage, broadcast on West Ham’s official website.
“He’s walking off, which is a great sign. You will be hoping it’s his ankle over his knee. I did my knee in 2008 and was out for about 18 months.
“It’s great to see him up on his feet. No risks here; get the young lad in the shower and get a bit of ice on it.”
Collins saw Golambeckis play the second-half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Southend. Three days later, as Dinos Mavropanos dropped out, the English youth star with Lithuanian heritage stepped into Nuno’s XI and produced a performance his long-time admirers will not have been surprised to see.
Golambeckis can be Dinos Mavropanos’ deputy under Nuno
As former Lithuania international Deimantas Bicka said in 2024, Golambeckis possesses ‘exceptional’ reading of the game in addition to his stand-out qualities with the ball at his feet.
Both attributes were in evidence tonight.
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Particularly when he used his long limbs to cut out a ball which threatened to loop over the top of the visiting backline.
“Really good from Golambeckis,” Collins said earlier in proceedings. “I was impressed on Saturday. He’s done really well. He’s certainly got the presence to be a proper centre-half.
“Nowadays, to show you’re a defender, you’ve got to have everything. You’ve got to be able to pass, play, head it, block it. You’ve got to have the full game, and he certainly seems to have it.
“It’s a credit to the staff. You look at the two centre-halves [Golambeckis and second-half sub Kaelan Casey], they could easily play central midfield. They look so comfortable. Credit to the lads, but the way these lads are coached now is unbelievable.”
Hammers News revealed earlier this week that Daniel Kretinsky has offered Mavropanos a new contract. Like with Jarrod Bowen’s, it will contain a clause allowing him to leave if promotion is not secured.
But even if Mavropanos was to leave before the September deadline, the unflappable, hopefully un-injured Golambeckis does not seem like someone who would be overawed by the challenge of taking his place.
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