Ian Wright is urging David Moyes to hand Divin Mubama a first ever Premier League start after the striker’s impact off the bench during Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win at Burnley.
As the youngster checked his phone in the Turf Moor dressing room, discovering that the goal he thought was his would eventually be ruled a Dara O’Shea OG, Divin Mubama must have endured a nasty flash of déjà vu.
This, after all, had happened before.
Mubama was denied what he felt was a first ever senior Hammers strike back in November 2022 – that too bestowed upon an unfortunate defender by the joyless Dubious Goals Committee.
West Ham beat Burnley
As far as Wright is concerned, however, Mubama did more than enough to catch the eye during his cameo appearance away to Burnley. Even if his 85th minute equaliser turned out not to be ‘his’ after all.
“(Mubama is) somebody I believe should be starting now,” the legendary Arsenal striker tells BBC’s Match of the Day, impressed by the way the West Ham whizzkid darted to near post to help convert a super Mohammed Kudus assist.
“He should be getting a start.”
Wright is not the only one clamouring for more involvement from a London-born teenager with a superb record at youth level. Mubama, who only turned 19 in October, scored 13 goals in 20 Premier League 2 games last term, with the struggles of Danny Ings and Michail Antonio doing little to justify such limited minutes at senior level.
That Burnley outing was Mubama’s first in the top-flight in the entirety of 2023/24.
Divin Mubama makes his mark
“It was great to come on today, get more minutes and show the boss what I can do,” Mubama smiles, a decision to be made as his contract runs down.
“I want to get on the end of crosses and things like that. This is what I like to, bring energy and put defenders on the back foot. I’ve tried to do that every time I come on. I’ve done that all the way through during my time with the Academy, with my pressing and running.
“I’ll take a little bit of credit for being in the right place, and also thanks to the gaffer for bringing me on, allowing me to come on and show what I can do. With players unavailable come opportunities in football, and you have to step up and take them, and be ready for them.”
West Ham’s interest in a number of striker targets – Vangelis Pavlidis, Yuri Alberto and Serhou Guirassy for instance – mean Mubama is likely to face even more competition for a starting berth in 2024, though his game-changing introduction at Turf Moor could yet be the start of a long-awaited run in the Hammers XI.
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