Teenager born in 2008 pictured at Rush Green as Graham Potter promotes him to first-team West Ham training

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West Ham United head coach Graham Potter is clearly keen to provide every opportunity he can to the club’s best young players.

Graham Potter took over as the new West Ham head coach around a month ago, and he has already made a big impression at the London Stadium.

One of Potter’s biggest challenges at West Ham will be to change the culture.

We have fallen so far as a club over the past 12 months, and Potter is now being tasked with getting things back on track at the London Stadium.

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An easy win for the 49-year-old Hammers head coach will be to bring through as much talented youth as he can.

Potter has consistently included Ollie Scarles, Lewis Orford and Kaelan Casey in his match-day squads for West Ham.

And now it could be another youngster’s turn to impress.

Graham Potter promotes teenager to first-team West Ham training

The Hammers head coach is clearly open to giving everyone at the club a chance to impress him, regardless of their age.

He proved that yesterday during a session at the club’s Rush Green training base.

Teenager goalkeeper Lanre Awesu was promoted to first-team training by Potter.

Awesu, wearing the squad number 77, can be seen taking part in first-team training via the club’s official website (image 9/20).

The goalkeeper only turned 17 at the end of last month, but he clearly has something special about him.

He has actually only made three appearances for the under-18’s so far.

But Lanre Awesu has obviously caught the eye of West Ham boss Graham Potter already.

It will be very interesting to keep an eye on his progress at the London Stadium over the next few years.

Lanre Awesu West Ham career to date

The teenager signed a full-time scholarship with the Hammers ahead of the 2024/25 season.

He is well-known as a giant of a goalkeeper, and has a reputation as an elite shot-stopper.

The 17-year-old is an England under-17 international as well.

Awesu still has a lot of hard work lying ahead of him if he is to make it at West Ham, obviously.

Being included in first-team training sessions will do him the world of good though.

Hopefully he learns quickly, makes some real progress and gains some regular first-team football on loan somewhere next season.

One thing’s for sure, Lanre Awesu will be waking up this morning with a huge smile on his face after spending yesterday training with the club’s top stars.