Airidas Golambeckis is fit to captain West Ham United in their National League Cup final meeting with Boreham Wood as Josh Ajala and Josh Landers lead the line.
England Under-18 centre-back Golambeckis recently came back from a spell on the sidelines, and he could hardly have timed his return any better. West Ham United are hoping to finish off a superb cup campaign with a victory at Meadow Park.
Should they do just that, Golambeckis will lift the trophy this evening.
Here’s your National League Cup final XI! 🏆
Which starlet are you most excited to see?
West Ham United have a cup specialist in Josh Ajala
Reserve-team coach Greg Lincoln unsurprisingly starts Lewis Orford in behind a frontline of Josh Ajala and Josh Landers. Playmaker Orford has 10 goals and assists in 14 games since returning from a loan spell at Stevenage.
Landers recently hit the goal trail again after a four-month barren spell. The former Hibernian kid is selected ahead of fellow Scotsman Daniel Cummings, who starts on the bench.
Ajala can claim the tournament’s Golden Boot, meanwhile, if he outscores Boreham Wood’s Matt Rush in the final.
Other youngsters to watch out for include Regan Clayton – who has stepped up impressively after Emeka Adiele left for FC Utrecht in early-February – and stylish midfielder Preston Fearon.
First-team skipper Jarrod Bowen called Fearon a ‘special’ talent last summer.
If you were wondering why Mohamadou Kante and Ezra Mayers are not involved, meanwhile, it is because they are now considered first-team players. Both Kante and Mayers featured in the group stage but are not involved tonight.
West Ham’s U21s can win a trophy on Tuesday! 🏆 🍾
What would silverware mean for our academy?
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