Airidas Golambeckis has played down concerns over the injury which forced him off during West Ham United’s 5-0 pre-season thrashing of Stevenage on Wednesday night.
The England U18 international impressed at Broadhall Way, stepping into the starting XI before performing with the kind of composure and authority his admirers at youth level have grown accustomed to.
So when Airidas Golambeckis hit the turf in the second half, pulling his shirt over his face as the physios surrounded him, a serious injury threatened to mar what was an excellent West Ham United evening in Hertfordshire.
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Goals for JWP, Taty, Orford, Ajala and newbie Murphy ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽
Speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel after fellow youngsters Lewis Orford, Josh Ajala and Jett Murphy put the seal on a five-goal victory, however, Golambeckis reveals that the problem was not as serious as first feared.
Airidas Golambeckis dodges West Ham United injury
“I’m all good,” he said. “Yeah, I’m all good.”
James Collins certainly feared the worst. On co-commentary duty for the second time in three days, the Welshman was in the stands as West Ham put Stevenage to the sword; a much improved display from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Southend.
Collins felt his entire career was under threat when he ruptured his ACL during his first spell as a West Ham player in 2008. The former centre-back will be extremely relieved to find out that Golambeckis avoided a similarly lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“I’m very happy to get 80 minutes,” adds the teenager, speaking after Collins praised his positional sense and passing range. “Unexpected, to be honest, but I’ve got to be ready for any challenge that comes up in pre-season and just be ready for the next.”
“Our gameplan was just to keep the ball, try to get up the pitch as much as we can. But yeah, I thought we played really well in both halves.
“I think, obviously, the senior lads in the first-half helped me quite a lot. And then I think our lads – us young lads, you know – really stepped up as well and played really good football.”
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James Collins makes some good points…
England U18 international is impressing Nuno Espirito Santo
Golambeckis is yet to make his senior debut but he has been training regularly under Nuno at Rush Green for the last seven months or so.
“Obviously, it’s a privilege to train with the first-team at this age. Every time, I just give it my all. And yeah, any chance that I get, I’m always going to be ready for it.
“Max [Kilman] – I’m quite close with him— he just gave me a few words. Kyle [Walker-Peters] as well, and just made me feel a lot more comfortable on the ball. And I thought I played really well.”
“Every time I put the shirt on for West Ham, it means a lot to me and my family as well.”
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