Welcome to the latest series from everyone’s favorite, Brace The Hammer. Over 20 writers ranked 32 youth players (21 and under) for West Ham United. We ranked them by assigning each player a max of 20 points, down to 1. The top 15 averages made our list.

Every day, leading up to the start of the season, we will be bringing to you our top fifteen youth academy prospects for West Ham United. Up next, young striker Toni Martinez.

Origins

Toni Martinez is 20 years old from Murcia, Spain. He started as a youth player in Murcia before he was bought by Valencia to be a part of their youth academy. After two years in Valencia, he was bought by West Ham United for the fee of 2.4 million pounds.

Academy Play

Toni Martinez started lighting it up right away with the PL2 side, scoring 7 goals in 7 games before suffering a few injuries and missing a few months. He also did this.

Even though it ended in defeat, that’s a world class goal.

In January, Toni was sent on loan to League One side Oxford United, where he only managed one goal in fifteen appearances in league play. However, he had two goals in two appearances in the FA Cup. One in Oxford’s victory over Newcastle United, and another in Oxford’s loss to Middlesbrough.

Future

There has been lots to be impressed with this preseason for Toni Martinez. He scored against Werder Bremen and Altona 93. But that’s only preseason. I would love to see Martinez get some time in the League Cup or the FA Cup, but with the lack of games he’d get this season , I would prefer another season on loan for the young Spaniard. He spent time in League One, so a spell in the Championship would be the next step up. I see bright things in his future, but not this upcoming season.