Callum Marshall says he’s determined to replicate his goalscoring exploits at youth level while on loan at West Bromwich Albion from West Ham United.
The teenage hotshot has notched 20 goals in all competitions in competitive matches for the Hammers’ PL2 side so far in 2023/24, strikes which helped him earn a senior debut for the Londoners in their recent Emirates FA Cup clash against Bristol City.
Marshall, a full Northern Ireland international at the age of 19, hopes he can continue hitting the back of the net but admitted he’ll need to quickly find a way to handle himself against “massive men” in the Sky Bet Championship.
Callum said: “I moved over to West Ham two years ago and I’ve been working my way up in youth football. I’ve scored a good few goals at PL2 level now so I wanted to go out on loan in January.
“West Bromwich Albion came in for me and it’s a massive club, pushing for promotion to the Premier League. I know it’s going to be hard, but I think this move could really help me kick on in my career.
“Playing for three points every week is going to be massive. I haven’t been involved in a game yet, but I know that this is people’s lives on the line in the changing room.
“If this club was able to get promoted to the Premier League, people’s lives would change. I know everyone is desperate to do as well as they can and I can’t wait to get involved in that.
“I feel the whole way through my career so far, no matter what level, I’ve managed to score goals.
“I’ve scored 16 in the league this year and then I’ve also scored four in the cup competitions, so I’m counting that as 20 in total so far this year.
“I hope I can get some more added to that, but I know it’s obviously not going to be anywhere near the same level as PL2. I’ll be up against massive men out there on the pitch and I’m going to have to find ways to hold my own against them.”
The former Linfield forward has already been notified of his duties and responsibilities by boss Carlos Corberán.
Callum is adamant the Spaniard can improve him as a player.
“I spoke to the manager the first day I was here. It was a five or ten-minute conversation about what he expects from me and where he sees me playing, stuff like that.
“I’ve spoken to all the lads about him and they’ve all said that he’ll make me a better player and that he’s a real tactician.
“As a young player, I really believe he can make me a better player.”
Baggies and Northern Ireland legend Chris Brunt has been quick to take his fellow countryman under his wing.
Marshall revealed he spoke with ‘Brunty’ on the phone once he heard of Albion’s interest – a conversation which helped him make up his mind about The Hawthorns being the perfect place for his first loan experience.
The youngster has also been travelling to and from training with the Baggies hero and says it’s an incredible feeling to have someone of Brunt’s status watching out for him.
“Brunty has been bringing me to training because I can’t drive yet. It certainly wasn’t something that I expected from him and it’s really nice that he’s offered.
“I’ve been speaking to him a lot and he’s a really nice guy.
“I know Gareth McAuley through the Northern Ireland set up so I’ve been speaking to him as well. It’s good to know there’s a lot of Northern Irish people who have been at the club.
“I hadn’t spoken to Brunty before joining Albion. The first time I spoke to him was when I knew the club was interested in me.
“I gave him a ring to find out bits about the club and see what he thought about me joining and where I would fit in.
“He was really positive about the club and that’s one of the main reasons I came here, knowing I’d have someone looking out for me while I was here.
“I’ve been a ball boy for Northern Ireland games when Brunty has been playing. It’s a bid mad that I can just have his number saved in my phone now. At least I can tell people that back home.
“It’s really good to be around such a Northern Ireland legend.”
