These 2 West Ham youngsters could be the next Marcus Rashford

3 December 2016 - Premier League - West Ham v Arsenal - Slaven Bilic Manager of West Ham United - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

It has been just over a year since Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford became a household name all over the country.

On February 25 2016, the 19-year-old was named in the United starting eleven following the injury to Anthony Martial in the warm-up, and the teenager made the most of his chance by firing home a brace in a 5-1 victory over Midtjylland in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Rashford was rewarded by being named in Louis van Gaal’s starting line-up against Arsenal in the Premier League three days later, and he once again didn’t disappoint, scoring a brace in just three minutes to send the Red Devils on their way to a 3-2 win over Arsene Wenger’s men a year ago today.

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Unsurprisingly, the English striker has gone from strength to strength since, making his debut for the national team, and indeed netting on it inside three minutes against Australia in May, as well as making Roy Hodgson’s squad for the European Championships last summer.

Further crucial goals have followed for United, including the winner in the Manchester derby as well as goals against Aston Villa and Hull, and he is now an important member of Jose Mourinho’s squad at Old Trafford.

But what other youngsters up and down the country are ready to pounce on their chance in the first team? Well, we took a look at West Ham’s pool of young talent, and identified TWO forwards who could be the next Rashford…

Jahmal Hector-Ingram

Striker Jahmal Hector-Ingram has been at West Ham since the age of eight, and has been in stunning goal-scoring form over the last few years.

The 18-year-old first appeared for the Under-18s side back in 2014/15, scoring five times in just 11 starts, before making his debut for the Development Squad just a season later, where he found the net against Arsenal and Aston Villa to help them to a seventh place finish in Division 2.

However, this term has seen the forward take it up another level as, back in amongst the Under-18s set-up, Hector-Ingram has scored 12 goals in just 17 games for the side to help them to fourth place in the South Division table, five points behind third place Reading.

The striker has also impressed in the Under-23s team this season, netting four times including once in Premier League 2 back in October, so he’s clearly on the upward curve and with a genuine chance of breaking into the first team over the coming years.

Toni Martinez

He is one of the most highly-rated youngsters at West Ham, and Toni Martinez has now been given the chance to experience first team football by going on loan to Oxford United for the rest of the season.

The 19-year-old moved to East London last summer after making his way through the ranks at Valencia, and immediately settled into the Under-23 team by netting five times in his first five Premier League 2 games.

Although he has had a few injury troubles this season, Martinez has racked up ten goals in just 11 appearances in PL2, but got his reward for his excellent form with a move to Oxford last month.

And he has started in brilliant fashion, netting in the U’s 3-0 victory over Newcastle in the fourth round of the FA Cup, before getting on the scoresheet in their 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough in the following round.

Although he has had EFL experience, unlike Rashford, it’s clear that Martinez has the potential to break-through and become a real asset to West Ham over the coming years.

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