By Joe Ellis

4th Nov, 2022 | 10:58am

View: David Moyes must make more use of West Ham starlet Ollie Scarles

West Ham United gave out a debut to 16-year-old versatile defender Ollie Scarles in the Europa Conference League against FCSB of Romania.

He already has four youth caps for England Under-17s and on his senior debut with the Irons, he looked like he had been there for decades and stood out as one of the star players on the night.

Scarles was utilised as a left wing-back in Bucharest but can also play off the right and in midfield when required and he was stunned to have made his debut for the Hammers.

“It’s a surreal experience making my debut,” he told BT Sport. “It’s something every kid dreams of. On Wednesday the XI that were starting did a positioning practice. I was in that and my heart dropped.”

The 16-year-old is on a remarkably similar path to that of West Ham captain Declan Rice as The Athletic report that he was released as a 12-year-old by Chelsea before joining the Irons.

Despite his very tender age, David Moyes could be smart to give him more games as and when the opportunity arises to get him accustomed to the fierce life of professional football as soon as possible.

Substitute appearances late in games when a result is already secured or a chance in the Carabao Cup is all it would take for his development to rapidly increase in the right direction.

It can be easy to get carried away when a genuine superstar potential talent emerges from within a club’s own academy so expectations have to be tempered to alleviate pressure on his shoulders.

but when the opportunity does come around, Moyes would be silly not to give him a chance and see if he can become a genuine squad player in a year or so.

In other West Ham news, the club are chasing this Scottish sensation but they are not alone in scouting him as he continues to set the pitch alight north of the border.