Jack Collison comments on ‘unbelievable’ quality of West Ham youngsters

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Jack Collison is now the U16 coach at Premier League outfit West Ham United, but who will be the next Declan Rice at the London Stadium?

There was a time where some of the most talented young players in England were emerging from the West Ham United academy, from Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick to Joe Cole, Glen Johnson and Frank Lampard.

The Hammers’ famed youth system hasn’t been quite so prosperous in recent years however, with Declan Rice one of the few who has truly established themselves as a crucial part of the first-team.

So Jack Collison, the club’s current U16 manager, is understandably hoping that a number of his fresh-faced proteges can follow in the footsteps of Ferdinand and co.

And speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT (September 26, 12pm), Collison certainly believes that there is no shortage of quality in West Ham’s youth ranks.

“First and foremost they’re very talented, there’s plenty of good footballers with potential. It’s unbelievable, from when I was there the standard has gone through the roof,” said the 29-year-old, who himself rose through the ranks at West Ham but was forced to retire in 2016 due to a persistent knee injury.

“(The pressure on youth coaches) isn’t always spoken (about). Over the next 12 or 18 months there will be that expectation, people will be asking who’s the next one knocking on the door.

“The question will be asked; ‘who is the next Declan Rice?’.”

The likes of Nathan Holland, Marcus Browne and Portuguese starlet Xande Silva, who has earned rave reviews since arriving from Vitoria Guimaraes in August, are among those who have been tipped for a bright future at West Ham.

But Collison is wary about the various distractions that can stunt a youngsters progress.

“In terms of the changes (at youth level) its quite scary to be honest with you. At an U18 game there will be 10, 12 agents and scouts, people trying to get boot deals, and it filters down to the 13-14 years olds,” he admitted.

“It is hard, not turning them into Big Time Charlies but we need to be able to compete with the Arsenals, Chelseas and Tottenhams. They’ve got to realise the opportunity and realise their potential.”