Opinion: Should Toni Martinez stay or be loaned out?

As David Gold has recently pointed out, our current academy is looking very promising.

After bringing through a number of high profile players such as Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Jermain Defoe, West Ham developed a reputation as “The Academy of Football”.

However, that reputation has faded in the past decade as the Hammers have brought through very few first team quality players.

But this looks like it could be about to change.

The likes of Nathan Trott, Reece Burke, Reece Oxford, Declan Rice, Josh Cullen, Nathan Holland, Martin Samuelsen and Toni Martinez all look like they will be able to push for first team slots in the near future.

But the immediate future of Toni Martinez is an interesting one.

There has been much debate concerning what we should do with him for the upcoming 2017/18 campaign.

Last season, he struck a very impressive fourteen goals in fourteen games for the under-23 side and had a profitable loan spell at Oxford United.

He has played a large part in West Ham’s pre-season but he is not ready to be our main striker next season.

Some have called for him to be sent out on loan for another year in order to gain some valuable first team experience and I am usually all for that.

In my book, I’d rather have our youngsters playing week in week out in a competitive game than getting the odd minute here or there in our first team and then playing in the sheltered environment of under-23 football.

However, Martinez is an exception.

This kid has some real talent.

Here are three reasons why I believe that West Ham should keep the young Spaniard at the club next season…

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Second choice striker

As things stand, Toni Martinez is our second choice striker behind Javier Hernandez.

Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho are constantly suffering injuries and we have sold Enner Valencia and Ashley Fletcher this summer.

Unless we sign a back-up forward, Martinez should be given the opportunity to impress as our deputy striker.

Rather than playing Ayew up top, Martinez could be given a chance.

The 20-year-old scored in pre-season and playing time in the Premier League is only going to improve the prolific youngster.

Reassess in January

The rules concerning loan deals changed last summer, making it very hard for clubs to recall players once they have been sent out.

If we suffer an injury or two in the striker department, Bilic will surely want Martinez back but this might be impossible.

We should keep the young Spaniard as a reserve choice up front for the first half of the season and then reassess the situation in January.

If it is right to send him out on loan to gain experience in January, then we can do that.

Javier Hernandez

There are very few strikers in the world who are better finishers than Javier Hernandez.

Chicharito knows where the net is and he has consistently scored goals wherever he’s gone.

A young, up and coming striker like Toni Martinez can learn so much from Hernandez; tips, tricks, positioning and more.

If Martinez has a season with Chicharito as his mentor, he could develop into an incredible striker before we know it.