Under 23s winger Nathan Holland has been in and around the West Ham first-team for the best part of the last year, but the 5 ft 7 winger continues to only hold one senior outing to his name.
Had it not been for injuries at the most unfortunate times, Holland would likely have added to his tally in the Carabao Cup, but Manuel Pellegrini had to turn to Grady Diangana against Macclesfield instead, and he relished in his breakthrough appearance to score twice and go on to become a regular option for the boss.
Football.London, though, believe the 2019/20 season will finally be the year that Holland is the one who breaks out of the academy ranks, and is thought to be our manager’s top alternative should he feel the need to dip his toes into the U23s again to supplement the first-team.
Despite injuries in the recently finalised campaign, Holland had managed to make eleven Premier League 2 appearances and assisted eight goals in those. His strikes against Blackburn and Derby County’s U23s also proved key, as we beat Rovers 3-1 and salvaged a point at the Rams.
Holland is not the only rarely seen ace that Football.London expect to be given a chance next term, either, as they state Edimilson Fernandes will be given an opportunity in pre-season to prove to Pellegrini why he does not need to sign a new box-to-box midfielder in the summer market.
