It has hardly been a bad few months for Divin Mubama.
The 18-year-old Academy of Football striker made his first-team debut in the UEFA Europa Conference League in November, a Premier League bow on Boxing Day, before a first taste of FA Cup action came in January on Monday night.
And so, you have to say, it is going pretty well for the No72 right now. Even he will admit that - but there is absolutely no way he is going to allow himself to get carried away!
“Everyone knows that in football, everything can happen quickly,” Mubama explained, after West Ham United’s 2-0 win over Derby County. “So, for me, I just want to just stay in the present moment.
"Obviously, you want to be grateful and just take every step; [Derby] was another opportunity to make a debut and I'm forever grateful for that.”
Mubama, who has played for the U18s, U21s and senior team this season, is ready for another weekend of action across the Club.
The U18s, who have won 12 of their 13 league games in 2022/23, face Stoke City in the FA Youth Cup fifth found at bet365 Stadium on Friday evening, the night before the first-team head to Newcastle United, and he hopes to be involved in both.
And with six goals in five games for the U18s in 2022/23, the young striker is keen to play his part as Kevin Keen’s young Hammers hope to reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2004/05.
“Whatever happens, happens,” he smiled. “I'm happy to be a part of both sides. And do what I need to do for either team. Whether that's going up to Newcastle or doing my bit for the U18s, I'm happy to do either.
“Our U18s squad is very strong, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch too. I think Kevin [Keen] and all the rest of the staff have created a very strong togetherness, form and build since I was a first-year scholar.
“All the boys are good, we will have good laughs, but, on the pitch, we know when it’s time. We are on an unbelievable run at the moment; hopefully, we can continue that and get the win on Friday as well.”
Mubama, who finished 2020/21 as the U18s’ top scorer, will hope to continue that goal-scoring run. Perhaps a first senior goal is the next milestone on his radar after his effort in the UECL against FCSB last November was awarded as an own-goal, and with 15 goals for the Academy this season already, you get the feeling that landmark moment is not too far away.
“I’m finding my form,” Mubama enthused. “I’ve been finding the net and that’s improving my confidence.
“I think confidence is the best thing in football; it can get you so far. I just want to continue to keep finding the back of the net [whether in the Academy or the first team].
“Obviously, I'm still young and you just try to learn every single day. The gaffer [David Moyes] has seen a lot of kids come through and go all the way to the top. I trust the gaffer and obviously, there's 100 per cent stuff that I need to work on.”
It is a mature mindset for a player so young then. Rather than looking forward, his goalscoring boots are firmly set on the ground.
“To be fair, literally, anything can happen,” he states, "I just want to see what the future brings by being in the present moment."
