West Ham’s famous youth academy continues to churn out quality youngsters who look set to make a major name for themselves in English football. With the Hammers in financial strife and battling relegation, the likes of James Tomkins , Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines have given the Upton Park faithful belief that 2009/2010 could have a happy ending.
Of all the young players emerging under Gianfranco Zola at West Ham, Jack Collison appears to be the hottest prospect and looks set for a major career at the highest level. Displaying the ability to both pass from deep and get on the end of attacks from a midfield position, it is easy to find comparisons with former Hammers, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard .
In a short top flight career, Collison has also had to deal with a serious injury on the pitch and the death of his father off it. Throughout this period, Collison’s talent for mixing it up in the middle of the park in the high octane environment of Premier League football and his ability to make and score goals has shone through.
After originally breaking into the West Ham first team in 2007/2008, Collison came to the fore last season, scoring three goals and providing three assists. Although he was a teenager at the time, Collison showed his confidence on the ball straight away and he has not gone missing when the Hammers have struggled.
The 6ft midfielder has clearly benefitted from his spell as captain of the West Ham reserve team where he developed his leadership skills. Collison also showed good character to come back from dislocating his knee cap in a match against Wigan last March. He only started two games following this injury at the back end of 2008/2009, but chipped in with an assist in the final day win over Middlesbrough and his eye for a pass has also been evident this season.
One of Collison’s best performances for West Ham to date came in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland in October where he proved his eye for a pass, setting up goals for Guillermo Franco and Carlton Cole . In particular, the assist for the second goal, scored by Cole, showed Collison’s eye for a through ball and a hugely promising football brain.
Already in 2009/2010, Collison has equaled the number of assists he picked up last season in less matches and has also had to contend with the death of his father who passed away in a motor cycle accident travelling to see his son play against Spurs in August. The 21-year-old has continued to illustrate that he has a mature head on young shoulders whilst the Hammers have battled against relegation.
Comparisons with Frank Lampard will likely continue if Collison keeps providing goals from midfield. He announced his Premier League arrival with a cracking finish against Everton last season and Collison seems able to make lung bursting runs from midfield and then compose himself to beat the opposition keeper. Being 6ft tall, he is also decent in the air and seems to have the all round game to become a major star in the Premier League.
Despite being English born, Collison chose to play for Wales through his grandfather and after producing a fine partnership with Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey in the Under-21s, looks like being a major player for the Welsh in the coming years alongside the Gunner and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale .
Like many great players that have come through the West Ham youth system (e.g. Carrick, Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole as well as legends such as Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking), Collison has immediately proved his quality on the ball and excellent football brain. Whilst the Hammers have struggled, Collison appears to be improving with every game and is a major asset for the club.
It may be a little early to predict a move away from Upton Park and the Welsh international is contracted to the Hammers until the end of season 2012/2013. But, Collison looks destined to play in the Champions League and at the top end of the Premier League just like many of those who have come off the conveyor belt of talent that is the West Ham Academy.
All of Jack Collison ’s goals and assists this season can be seen on the video below.
