- First team keeper coach Chris Woods was delighted after youngster Nathan Trott signed a new three and a half year deal
- The England U19 player is highly rated around the Club’s Academy and has trained with the first team a number of times
- Academy manager Terry Westley also praised the teenager and said it was a great deal for the Club
Hammers first team goalkeeping coach Chris Woods and academy manager Terry Westley both expressed their delight after young stopper Nathan Trott signed his first professional contract at the Club.
The Bermudan-born 18-year-old, who recently received his first England U19 call-up, is extremely highly regarded around the Club and put pen to paper on a new three and a half year deal this week.
Woods, who has worked with Trott on a number of occasions this season while the talented teenager trains with the first team, believes the keeper can become a top player at West Ham United in the future.
He said: “The lad’s got great potential and it’s so difficult to find good, young goalkeepers. Nathan ticks all the boxes so we’re very pleased [he’s signed his deal].
“He has to keep learning, working hard and progressing, but he’s the type of lad who wants to listen and wants to do well and he’s a joy to work with.
“For my aims and for Nathan’s this season, he needs to continue to play in the U23s. He’s been called up to the England squad so to play for them on a regular basis would make a really good season for him.”
Trott has appeared a combined nine times for both the Premier League 2 squad and U18s side this season despite suffering an injury that kept him during October and the majority of November.
Westley, who heads up the Academy of Football, explained why tying the youngster down to a long term deal was so important for the Hammers.
“Along with Domingos Quina [who signed recently], it’s again a great signing for the Club, it’s great progress for the Academy,” Westley said. “He’s a young boy with a lot more to come. He now has got to try and make his way in the professional game.
“But I’m delighted to have got his signature, delighted that it’s long term and I look forward to working with him, Chris, JJ [Jerome John] and Billy [Lepine, Academy goalkeeper coaches] to try and make him improve and make his way in the professional ranks.
“Now his decision making in the pro game will be the defining factor as to whether he can really kick on and become a top goalkeeper at this football Club. But he certainly has the ingredients.”
One particular attribute of Trott’s stands out on the field of play, and the coaching pair both moved to highlight this talent after he signed the deal.
Woods said: “The way that goalkeeping has moved on over the years; he’s got great feet, he’s got the ability to see the pass, to control the ball, his agility is second to none and like I say, he’s got all those things going for him.”
Meanwhile, Westley continued: “His feet, and being able to set the play up and start you off, are magnificent. They’re that good.
“Now he has got to go from this junior goalkeeper into men’s football. But his attributes are great; in being able to set up attacks, his agility, the speed he covers the ground and makes good stops.
“But does he have a wow factor? He can make passes as good as outfield players.”