19-year-old Ben Johnson is currently playing for the West Ham United’s academy, but according to Sam Inkersole he’s now training with the first-team.
Johnson hasn’t played for the first-team this season and is yet to play any competitive match since August, which was against Manchester United U23’s in a 2-2 draw, where the 19-year-old was playing right-back.
Many of the West Ham fans were thrilled with Inkersole’s update, some even asking for his inclusion in the first-team.
Ben Johnson is back in training with the first team after being out injured since mid-September. #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/gi86H2ijhT
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) November 21, 2019
Great news! Was looking like a real player!
— IronsmanJP (@IronsManJP) November 21, 2019
Really think we need to blood him in
— ESSEX HAMMER (@WHULUVA) November 21, 2019
Let’s hope he starts to get some game time looks a very good player
— Dean Harvey (@deanharvey2) November 21, 2019
The forgotten man
— robert smith (@darobsta08) November 21, 2019
It’s unlikely that he’ll be starting against Tottenham on Saturday, but you never know if Manuel Pellegrini feels like experimenting, then he could sneak a place on the bench.
100% get him in our team imo
— Rob (@BobbyMac5) November 21, 2019
Get him the starting XI
— Tom Murphy (@TommyMurphwhu) November 21, 2019
What Do We Think?
A lot of the academy players could arguably get a place in the starting lineup, which could be considered a good problem to have at the London Stadium at the moment, with players such as Nathan Holland also not getting in the squad. Johnson will have to be working very hard on the training ground if he is to stand a chance, as Manuel Pellegrini is seeming to be a very hard man to impress, as he continually sticks to the likes of Pablo Zabaleta and Ryan Fredericks.