Unfortunately, pre-season friendlies don’t really provide access to detailed statistics. Still, if we were to hazard a guess, we’d say that Jett Murphy’s first goal in West Ham United colours came from one of his very first touches.
The Hammers starred in Stevenage; James Ward-Prowse and Taty Castellanos showing the benefits of experience in the first-half before Lewis Orford, Josh Ajala, and the summer signing from Chelmsford City tore into those tired Hertfordshire legs after the break.
Now, Jett Murphy’s goal was hardly the best of the night.
A 5-star showing in Stevenage! Who stood out most to you?
Goals for JWP, Taty, Orford, Ajala and newbie Murphy ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽
Castellanos and Orford can fight for that honour. The former slotting away cooly from a Jarrod Bowen through ball, and the latter proving a point to the club who ignored him on loan with a sublime curling effort into the top corner.
Those who saw Murphy rack up eight goals in 26 National League South appearances down the road in Essex, though, will not have been surprised by the nature of his first goal in West Ham United colours, even if they maybe didn’t expect to see it arrive so soon.
Jett Murphy scores as West Ham United beat Stevenage 5-0
An incisive outside-of-the-foot pass into the area from Preston Fearon. Josh Ajala made a nuisance of himself at the back post.
And, as the ball dropped loose, there he was; Jett Murphy in the right place at the right time to profit.
It is, of course, too early in the teenager’s career to call it a ‘party piece’. Talk of trademark ‘finisher moves’ can wait.
But if you squint your eyes and scan through the grainy footage of Murphy in action in Weymouth, Torquay, Chippenham and Chesham, you will see a lot more examples of this.
Right place, right time, right finish.
It’s not just blind luck, you know. To quote Kenny Brown, West Ham’s Academy Manager, Jett Murphy is a ‘natural goalscorer’. He certainly seems to possess the instincts.
Give us your first impressions about new West Ham kid Jett Murphy? 🚀
The teenager is a 'natural goalscorer'
In a video posted by Chelmsford’s official X account, when his move to the Hammers was made official, Murphy could be seen scoring six times. Four of those were first-time finishes. The other two, meanwhile, saw him take the ball beautifully into his stride before converting from close-range.
The admittedly unofficial debut which got his West Ham career off to a flying start in Stevenage was not a gift. It was not a stroke of good fortune, even if there was an element of luck about the way Ajala bundled it into his path.
It was simply a young centre-forward doing what he does best.
“I’m over the moon to have signed for the club,” Murphy the ‘Jett-setter’ said last month. “It’s been a lifetime dream of mine and my family’s too, as we’re all West Ham fans.
“I’ve supported the club since I was born, so it feels like a full-circle moment. It’s unbelievable and I still can’t get over the fact it’s happened!
“I’m a very hard-working and tenacious player, and I like to make runs in behind. I’m hoping to score as many goals as I can for the U21s and see where that takes me.”
The Hammers have a ‘natural goalscorer’ in Murphy
Did you know that, despite only joining the Hammers in June, Murphy already has a brace for the club’s U18s on his CV? The teenager scored twice during a 5-2 thrashing of Norwich City in the spring while on trial in East London.
One of his goals that day – a cool, composed finish one-v-one after being set clear – showed that Murphy has more in his locker than close-range tap-ins.
“He made a really strong impression on our recruitment department, who brought in plenty of details and reports around him,” said Kenny Brown. “He brings energy, he’s a natural goalscorer and he has a great work ethic.
“He’s a good player with great support around him, and we think he’ll fit really well into our U21s. We’re looking forward to developing him and seeing how far we can take him..
“All of the early signs are really positive and he’s been brilliant on and off the pitch. He’s scored goals everywhere he’s played.”
Including, now, for the West Ham first-team. Pre-season friendly or not.
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