West Ham United manager David Moyes has given his verdict on teenage striker Divin Mubama after scoring his first senior goal for the club on Thursday night.
Mubama came off the bench for the final 36 minutes of the Hammers ’ Europa Conference League round of 16 second leg victory over AEK Larnaca, making his fourth senior appearance and his second in Europe.
Just over ten minutes after coming on, Mubama got himself on the scoresheet to make it 4-0 on the night and 6-0 on aggregate, turning in Tomas Soucek’s header from an Aaron Cresswell corner with a brilliant back-heeled flick, his first senior goal.
READ NEXT : David Moyes explains why West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca was substituted after goal vs AEK Larnaca
In all competitions for the academy this season, Mubama has scored 26 goals in 30 appearances across under-18 and under-21 levels. Prior to making his senior debut against FCSB in November, Mubama had scored just once in 12 academy appearances but since getting his senior debut, at academy level, he has scored 25 goals in his last 18 academy matches, including five goals in three FA Youth Cup matches and 11 goals in his last ten Premier League 2 outings.
Speaking on Mubama, Moyes said the striker has impressed him a lot whenever he has been given senior opportunities.
“Yes. I talked about it a wee bit earlier, I said there’s nothing more that gives you pleasure than getting young players an opportunity,” said Moyes.
“It’s really difficult to become a professional footballer, especially in the Premier League. A lot of these players are starting off at eight, nine, ten years old trying to get through. To be able to give them a chance and tonight, allowed us that opportunity as the game went on.
“Every time Divin has come on, I tell you what he does, he runs and he does the work and he doesn’t think twice about his effort or anything he does. Because of that, we’re growing to him all of the time.
“He’s done really well and I’m pleased. Young Levi [Laing] has been doing pretty well in the under-21s and [Freddie] Pottsy’s been in it a while and they both got a run out tonight, so that was good.”
Moyes was also asked about how often Mubama is training with the first-team, having made four senior appearances in as many months.
Following Danny Ings’ January arrival, Mubama’s training chances have been more limited but Moyes thinks he has shown he is capable of competing at a higher level.
“He’s not done it so much because at the moment, centre forwards, we are pretty full in that area but a period back, he was,” added Moyes.
“We will bring him up when we think he is ready and he is, he does train with us quite a lot but not all the time.”
READ NEXT
David Moyes highlights Lukasz Fabianski mask 'problem' amid West Ham goalkeeper injury update
The best and worst case scenarios for West Ham in Europa Conference League as Lazio crash out
Every word David Moyes said on West Ham's AEK Larnaca win, Gianluca Scamacca and Divin Mubama
West Ham player ratings as Jarrod Bowen stars and Divin Mubama goal seals AEK Larnaca thrashing
David Moyes raises Premier League scheduling question ahead of West Ham vs Southampton
