Nuno Espirito Santo sends message to West Ham strikers as Callum Marshall impresses on debut

Nuno Espirito Santo Backs Callum Marshall to Push for More Minutes After Premier League Debut

Nuno Espirito Santo believes Callum Marshall will be pushing for increased involvement after making his Premier League debut during West Ham’s 2-0 loss to Arsenal.

Marshall came off the bench in the 59th minute, replacing Niclas Fullkrug, with West Ham trailing 1-0. Academy graduate Freddie Potts also entered the pitch at the same time, as Nuno turned to youth in an attempt to change the game.

Bringing on the 20-year-old ahead of the more experienced Callum Wilson was a clear sign of trust from the new West Ham head coach, who praised Marshall’s performances in training during his first full week with the squad.

“I’ve seen his energy, his finishing ability, and his movement in training,” Nuno said after the match. “He understands space well. Even though he’s not the strongest physically, especially against a tough centre-back, he still managed to get on the end of a header. I think he’s a player we can use.”

Since taking over, Nuno has already made several bold selection calls. Both James Ward-Prowse and Jean-Clair Todibo were left out of the squad for a second straight game, and leaving Wilson—the only West Ham striker to score in the league this season—on the bench was another major decision.

Still, Nuno played down the significance of Wilson’s omission, emphasizing that all three strikers—Marshall, Wilson, and Fullkrug—will have roles to play.

“We’ll have three strikers available: Fullkrug, Callum Wilson, and Marshall,” he said. “We’ll need all of them. They’re different players who give us different options and solutions.”

West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal marked Nuno’s first loss at the helm, coming in just his second game in charge. Despite being outplayed—Arsenal controlled 68% of possession—there were signs of progress, particularly in the team’s improved defensive structure.

Nuno acknowledged the difficulty of the match but remained optimistic about the foundation being built.

“It was tough, very tough—as we expected,” he said. “Arsenal had us on the ropes for large parts of the game. At times, we couldn’t really break out and attack, though I think we defended well in spells.”

He added that the upcoming international break would be important for development and reflection.

“There’s a lot of work to do—on every level,” Nuno explained. “Mentally, it’s been a big week with lots of changes and challenges. The break will help us settle down and refocus. But every aspect of our game needs attention.”