West Ham loanee, is under scrutiny at League One club Huddersfield Town, with manager Michael Duff publicly encouraging the teenage striker to improve his performance.
The 20-year-old Northern Irish forward signed a season-long loan with Huddersfield in August, hoping to get vital first-team experience and demonstrate his potential. However, Duff’s recent statements indicate that Marshall has yet to fully achieve the expectations put on him.
Manager calls out West Ham loanee Callum Marshall
Duff told Yorkshire Live that his forwards, particularly Marshall, needed to make more attacking contributions.
While appreciating the striker’s previous late goal in a win, Duff made it clear that the squad cannot rely solely on defenders scoring from set pieces to win games.
Duff said:
“It may seem like pressure, but it is pressure; we cannot continue to rely on centre-halves to score goals from set plays to win games. I know Callum scored a goal right at the end, which ended the game, but there is an expectation, and it isn’t quite landing right now.
“We’ve tried a lot of different combinations, and it’s not like they’re not trying. It’s trying to be a little more clinical because we’re not always going to come out and create that many chances, regardless of who we play.
Marshall has shown flashes of promise while at Huddersfield. In 18 appearances across all competitions, he has four goals and two assists in less than 1,000 minutes of play. His best performance came in the EFL Cup against Morecambe, where he scored and assisted in a convincing 3-0 win.
However, the young forward’s general consistency remains an issue, with Duff encouraging him to grasp opportunities and make a bigger impact in games.
Marshall has made steady progress since joining West Ham’s youth academy in January 2022. He helped the team win the 2023 FA Youth Cup, scoring in the final against Arsenal. Earlier this year, he made his senior debut for the Hammers in an FA Cup match, highlighting his potential.
With his contract continuing until 2027, West Ham must make a critical decision about Marshall’s future. They must decide if he can be a beneficial addition to their long-term ambitions or if it is better to capitalise on his potential through a transfer.
For the time being, the player will focus on responding to Duff’s challenge, demonstrating his consistency, and making a greater case for his participation at both Huddersfield and West Ham.
