Callum Marshall may have finally stepped onto the Premier League stage for the first time in a West Ham United shirt but the Northern Ireland international is certainly not resting on his laurels.
That half-hour cameo at the Emirates, he says, is not the end goal but merely the beginning.
The West Ham faithful had been clamouring for Marshall to be given the chance at senior level. And, following four goals in three matches for Mark Robson’s Under-21s, their wish came true. The youngster’s maiden Premier League appearance a rare plus point on an otherwise forgettable 2-0 defeat by London neighbours Arsenal.
Callum Marshall was arguably West Ham United’s biggest goal threat too, despite only touching the ball eleven times. He certainly came closer than anyone else in a navy blue shirt, climbing impressively at the back post to win a header which flashed over David Raya’s crossbar.
With Nuno Espirito Santo set to make his London Stadium bow against Brentford after the October international break, Marshall is determined to ensure his next attempt ends up hitting the net rather than whizzing past it.
Callum Marshall wants a first Premier League goal when West Ham United face Brentford
Despite only taking charge a week ago, Nuno likes what he sees from Callum Marshall. A forward with ‘energy’, ‘mobility’ and a ‘good finisher’, too.
While largely unproven in senior football – apart from an impressive loan spell at third-tier Huddersfield Town last season – Marshall clearly doesn’t lack in the confidence department either.
While Nuno will be desperate for a first home win, Marshall hopes to build on that Arsenal appearance with a first top-flight goal next time out.
“Coming over from Northern Ireland, this is what I wanted to do. I am happy the new manager has given me my debut and, hopefully, there is more to come,” Marshall, who joined the Hammers back in January 2022 from Linfield, tells the Belfast Telegraph.
“I’m just happy to get on the pitch after being on the bench a few times under David Moyes and then Graham Potter. I am thankful to the gaffer [Nuno]. He hasn’t seen much of me yet but, when I come back from Northern Ireland, I can hopefully show him I can affect games and bring energy.
“It was a hard game to affect on Saturday. I had a headed chance but, if I get on again, I will hopefully become a Premier League goalscorer. I want to come back in against Brentford and score in front of the home fans.
“I can play in a few different positions, and I want to affect the game.”
Nuno Espirito Santo explains why Marshall made his debut at Arsenal
Called up by Michael O’Neil for this month’s international fixtures against Slovakia and Germany, Marshall is determined to end his wait for a maiden Northern Ireland goal too in what would be his 13th cap.
A decade younger than both of his rivals back at West Ham – he was selected ahead of 33-year-old Callum Wilson last time out – Nuno insists that Marshall’s inclusion was not a cynical attempt to get the fans onside, but rather a reward for a footballer who has clearly made an impression on the training pitch.
“I said it personally, it’s not easy to put a young lad in front of Callum Wilson,” Nuno said in North London. “It’s important for us, as soon as possible, to have total knowledge of who we have in the squad.
“The main reason behind that is we are going to need all of them, and we have hope that the young lads will bring new things.
“What I have been seeing in training sessions, [Marshall has] energy, he is a good finisher, has good mobility, he can realise the gaps in the space. He has a good chance up against a very strong centre-half and he managed to get the header.
“I think we have something we can use. We have three strikers available; [Niclas] Fullkrug, Callum Wilson, and Marshall. Different solutions and different options going forward.”
Nuno is a fan of Freddie Potts and hints at George Earthy role
Nuno plans to make West Ham’s youngsters central to his attempted revolution.
Freddie Potts has featured more already than he did under Potter, while he indicated that George Earthy will have a part to play when he returns from a hamstring injury in November.
“The [young] lads are so important for us,” the former Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur coach said. “They bring this energy. So, we hope George will recover soon.
“We have to compete, this is the main message that has been passed to me, that we need to compete. To be strong, to be aggressive, to be brave. They say [bringing through young players is] the ‘West Ham way’.
“Let’s try.”
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