George Earthy opens up on the ‘special’ thing the West Ham fans did for him this week

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Tuesday night was a special one for West Ham United’s George Earthy, and not only because it was his first-half goal which fired Greg Lincoln’s Under-21s into EFL Trophy round-of-16.

The England international jinked this way and that, eventually engineering the yard of space he needed to drill his finish low into the bottom corner of the Colchester goal.

Surely now Earthy is becoming almost impossible for Nuno to overlook.

The West Ham boss was understandably wary of bringing George Earthy back into the first-team fold before he was ready, following ankle ligament damage which ruined his pre-season preparations. But that was before Earthy embarked on a scintillating run of eight goal contributions in seven matches for the Under-21s.

Any concerns over his fitness, meanwhile, well a first 90-minute outing since September is another plus.

Talking of scintillating runs, the glorious solo goal he scored against non-league Truro City last month only cemented the feeling that Earthy is simply far too good for this level.

A man who won the Young Player of the Year award at play-off semi-finalists Bristol City last season, a man with a Premier League goal on his CV, running the show against fourth and fifth tier teams with Greg Lincoln’s reserves.

George Earthy was heralded by the West Ham United fans after his Colchester winner

A hearty throng of travelling supporters at the JobServe Community Stadium chanted the name of their much-loved, Havering-born playmaker. Surely now it is only a matter of time before they get to see him strut his stuff at West Ham’s home ground again.

Speaking to the club’s official website, after his clever first-half strike ensured West Ham are the only U21 side to reach the last-16 of the EFL Trophy, Earthy was ‘buzzing’.

Not just with the goal – he has now scored or assisted against MK Dons, Swindon and Colchester in the competition – but also with the reception he got from an adoring fanbase.

“I’m absolutely buzzing that the boys got over the line,” Earthy said.

“The second half was a really tough one, but I think all the lads stuck together and got through it as a team, and for the boys to get through to the next round and win against a solid team, I think it shows everything you need to know about this team.

“I’m always very happy to score and help the team, but I think all together it was a really strong performance from everyone. It was an incredible turnout from the fans, and I think it speaks so highly of the club and how much the club comes together to support any team throughout the club.

“I think they really helped us get over the line.

“It’s a special feeling for anyone to get their name chanted during the game, and for someone who has come through the Academy, it means that bit more.”

Finlay Herrick ‘heroic’ as Hammers goalkeeper earns Greg Lincoln’s praise

This is not the first time a West Ham youngster has been greeted by a chorus of claps.

Even the Truro supporters applauded Krisztian Hegyi following a series of fine saves during that 3-0 victory in Cornwall. On Tuesday night in Essex, another West Ham goalkeeping prospect was in ‘outstanding’ form.

Finlay Herrick performed ‘heroics’ as Colchester were denied an equaliser they probably deserved. The 19-year-old’s stand-out moment coming in stoppage time, when he saved a Michael Mbick penalty and then deflected the rebound onto the crossbar.

“He [Herrick] was outstanding,” an awe-struck Lincoln said.

“I think that he showed his maturity with his performance. He had a really successful spell out on loan at Boreham Wood, and he’s come back into the club. He does things properly, and he trains well.

“I think you could see all the learning from his loan spell out there on the pitch tonight. We know he’s a fantastic keeper and a fantastic shot stopper, and it was a real heroic performance.”