Crysencio Summerville is not the only West Ham United player up for an award following a stellar January for the suddenly-prolific Premier League winger.
Former Leeds ace Summerville scored in a fourth straight Hammers game when he converted Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross in last week’s 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Find the net again when West Ham United kick off away to Burnley on Saturday, and he will become the first since Jesse Lingard in 2021 to score in five successive appearances.
This TalkingPoints user is DESPERATE for Axel Disasi to start! 🇫🇷
But what do you think?
Speaking of Nuno Espirito Santo’s number seven, and speaking of 2021, Summerville could end a five-year wait for a West Ham player to claim the Premier League’s Player of the Month prize. The most recent went not to Lingard, but to Michail Antonio following a stunning start to the 2021/22 campaign.
Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, meanwhile, is up for the division’s Save of the Month gong. And among the Goal of the Month nominees is Mateus Fernandes.
Fernandes fired an ‘unbelievable’ shot into the Sunderland net during the 3-1 triumph over Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats a fortnight ago.
But that Portuguese piledriver was arguably not even the best goal scored by a West Ham player in January. That honour, according to a fair few fans on X and YouTube, should go to 17-year-old academy starlet Lewis Beckford.
West Ham United fans rate Lewis Beckford’s effort above Mateus Fernandes’
Beckford is one of six nominees for West Ham’s in-house Goal of the Month award. He joins Fernandes and Summerville on the shortlist, alongside Under-21 midfielder Tyron Akpata and Shekiera Martinez and Verena Hanshaw of the women’s team.
Now, in most months, Fernandes’ screamer would be enough to claim the prize. As one fan writes, this collection ‘is probably the best Goal of the Month [competition] I’ve seen’.
Who would you give the Goal of the Month prize to? ⚽
Beckford’s effort, though, was as unique as it was special. During an FA Youth Cup fourth-round defeat by Everton, the stylish midfielder flicked the ball first time over the head of his bamboozled marker before firing a volley with his weaker right foot into the far corner.
Dennis Bergkamp-esque in its imagination and its execution.
“Mateus’ goal was so good, but Beckford’s was top class,” one supporter says in response to the teenager’s masterful touch and finish. “[He] wins for me.
“Beckford’s goal [should win], just for the grace and the audacity.
“Beckford – great skill from the lad!”
“First goal from Beckford [is the best].”
Mateus Fernandes says more to come from him at West Ham
Beckford’s brilliance would count for little in the end. Everton triumphed on penalties in that fourth round clash. West Ham won the FA Youth Cup in 2023 – Ollie Scarles, George Earthy, Callum Marshall, Kaelan Casey and Lewis Orford have gone on to make Premier League debuts since – but Luke Smith’s side will not be reclaiming their crown this term.
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The aforementioned Fernandes, meanwhile, is determined to ensure that Sunderland screamer spawns a new Portuguese party piece.
“It was unbelievable! It was my first goal from outside of the box, so I’m very happy,” Fernandes said at the time. “It’s a thing I started to learn on the training ground. I started to do it on training sessions, so I need to try more in the games because I can shoot well.
“It was good for me and it was good for the team as well.
“Everyone actually, [Crysencio] Summerville, Pablo, Lucas [Paqueta], they said to me to shoot! But in my position, I try to give the better chance for them and then they do the work to score the goals.
“But yeah, it was a good point for me today. It gave me confidence for the next games and I’ll try to shoot more.”
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