After emphatically defeating Brighton 5-1 down on the south coast last Friday, Spurs’ under 23 side take on east London club West Ham United this Friday (the game starts at 16:00pm) at West Ham’s Rush Green Stadium. Still in with a good chance of winning the Premier League 2 Division One league, a win for Spurs over West Ham tomorrow would make it three league wins in a row for Wayne Burnett’s side. Dmitri Halajko’s West Ham side haven’t played a competitive game of football since the 14th of December, and while they have only played ten league games so far this season, West Ham have only picked up five points from those ten games, and they currently occupy bottom spot in the league standings. We faced tomorrow’s opposition in game week two of the 2020/21 season, and from following West Ham’s live blog it sounded like West Ham had quite a few good chances early on in the game, but Spurs did end up winning the game 3-0, thanks to goals from Harvey White, Rodel Richards and George Marsh. Some West Ham’s forwards that the Spurs players will have to be aware of tomorrow include prolific striker Ademipo Odubeko, 22 year old skilful winger Nathan Holland, forward thinking fullback Sam Caiger and forward Sean Adarkwa. This West Ham side is full of talented players, and while the results haven’t been going their way this season (they beat Manchester United 2-0 at home not too long ago), they’ll be really up for this London derby, as they return to playing competitive football.

A key player for our under 23 side in creative midfielder Harvey White left the club to join Portsmouth on loan until the end of the season, while Anthony Georgiou left the club on a permanent transfer to Cypriot side AEL Limassol, so obviously neither player will be involved in tomorrow’s game. It was great to see centre half Malachi Fagan-Walcott return to get some minutes against Brighton in our last game, after being out injured for a long while, so he could potentially play some part in tomorrow’s game, which will be another tough one for Spurs, but they do have the joint best away record in the league. While tomorrow’s game is being played behind closed doors, West Ham are doing a live blog of the game on their website. Finally, I would just like to wish the Spurs team all the very best of luck for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Oluwayemi, Marsh, Lyons-Foster (c), Omole, Lavinier, Bowden, John, Pochettino, Thorpe, Markanday, Etete.

Subs from: Kurylowicz, Fagan-Walcott, Roles, Pedder, Mukendi.

Injured/unavailable: Alfie Devine (suspended). 

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 3-0.

My score prediction: Spurs 4-2.

My one to watch: A player with good pace and skill, as well as being a really clinical finisher, Republic of Ireland youth international and striker Ademipo Odubeko (18) could be West Ham’s main danger man on Friday if he does play. The former Manchester United schoolboy scored twice for West Ham’s development side in the EFL Trophy against Southend United earlier this season, and for me I have been impressed with his fine movement off the ball whenever I have seen him play against Spurs. He will definitely be a player to watch out for if he is involved in Friday’s under 23 game. Odubeko made his first team for West Ham in a recent FA Cup game against Stockport County.