THERE is nothing more West Ham fans like to see than one of their own stepping up and shining from the academy.
Since Declan Rice emerged in 2017 there have been glimpses of others coming through – and there are now high hopes for young defender Kaelan Casey, who could be close to starting in the Premier League under Graham Potter.
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How do they play and who do they remind you of?
Like all young defenders, Casey is confident on the ball and happy to play out of the back.
However, those who watch the youngster closely often say there is a more old-school feel about the 20-year-old.
Casey has a real passion for defending and has picked the brains of some of the best around West Ham.
He has been compared to greats of the past such as Martin Keown or Terry Butcher given his more aggressive and safety-first approach to defending.
Tell us about their rise…
Casey was on the West Ham radar from the age of five and joined their famed academy aged eight.
He has been guided through the ranks by some of the Hammers’ finest, leaning on advice from former captains Rice and Mark Noble at times.
Academy coach Kevin Keen has also been a huge influence, while Angelo Ogbonna – who he replaced for his Premier League debut – also took a keen interest in Casey’s development before departing at the end of his contract last summer.
Paul Nevin and Kevin Nolan, both first team coaches under David Moyes, have worked with Casey at both club and international level.
Before making the step up to the senior team in East London – Casey had a huge moment with the Under-18s, scoring in their FA Youth Cup final win over Arsenal at the Emirates in April last year.
Julen Lopetegui took a shine to the youngster, opting to include him in the first team rather than sign experienced defender John Egan on a free this summer.
The Spaniard has now been replaced by Potter and the crisis at the back means Casey might be thrust into the starting XI
What are the experts saying?
After promoting Casey to the senior ranks permanently, Lopetegui liked what he saw.
The former Hammers boss said: “Casey is a good player, a good profile and academy profile.
“He is working very well with us and we are happy with him.”
He’s trained well, he conducts himself well, he wants to learn, he wants to improve… so he’s an option.
GRAHAM POTTER
Potter said: “He’s been training with us. He’s done well.
“Obviously, we haven’t had too many full training sessions, so I can’t give you a full assessment of him.
“But in the training sessions that we’ve had, he’s trained well, he’s done well.
“It’s a big step, obviously, into the Premier League. But again, he’s someone that is well thought of.
“He’s trained well, he conducts himself well, he wants to learn, he wants to improve. So he’s an option.”
What does the next 12 months hold?
Interest in Casey has already been knocked back, with German club Hoffenheim – playing in the Europa League this season – making an approach in the summer.
But Casey is firmly focused on graduating from the Academy of Football and making his name in east London.
The Hammers’ early-season struggles meant Lopetegui was less likely to take a risk at the back.
But West Ham’s limited pool of just three senior central defenders means that when injuries and suspensions bite, the big opportunity may come along.
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