West Ham United fans are gutted that highly-rated young striker Mipo Odubeko cannot fill in for the injured Mipo Odubeko.
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Many West Ham fans are convinced Odubeko – the 18-year-old snapped up from Manchester United a year ago – is destined to be the next to graduate from the academy to the first team.
Odubeko started the season in red hot form for West Ham’s development side.
West Ham had to beat off a host of clubs for Odubeko’s signature when he refused to sign a new deal at Manchester United last October (whufc.com).
Odubeko was said to be on the verge of senior call before injury
And it is easy to see why given his performances at the start of the campaign that reportedly had him on the verge of a senior call for the Carabao Cup games until injury struck.
Odubeko was twice on the scoresheet as West Ham’s Under 23s beat Southend 3-1 in the EFL Trophy. That made it four goals in two games for the prolific Irishman.
But there was something more than just the goals to his performance. It made a real statement and felt like a watershed moment for the youngster.
West Ham fans remarked they had not seen the kind of deadly finishing power displayed by Odubeko since a certain Jermain Defoe was emerging from the West Ham ranks.
Defoe’s talent was so obvious he forced his way into the West Ham squad as a 17-year-old.
Hammers fans gutted young striker isn’t available in light of Antonio injury
And many West Ham fans are gutted Odubeko is currently out injured. Because they are convinced he would be ready to step up to the Hammers squad in the absence of star man Michail Antonio.
The powerful striker is out for around a month with another hamstring injury.
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Odubeko may not be too far away from a return. He posted a comeback message on Twitter on his birthday recently while donning a retro West Ham shirt.
“Birthday boy. Back soon!” Odubeko posted on Twitter alongside a picture of him wearing his birthday present, West Ham’s 1997/98 shirt.
Quite how soon is anyone’s guess.
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But many West Ham fans are gutted he is not available to come into the squad in light of Antonio’s injury.
Here are a selection of comments from fans on Twitter, including Manchester United supporters who still lament him leaving Old Trafford.
‘Absolute limbs if Odubeko is on the teamsheet’
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