Northern Ireland boss encouraged striker to make 'perfect move' from Hammers to Luton

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has revealed how he ‘encouraged’ striker Callum Marshall to take the next step in his career by leaving West Ham United to sign for Luton Town on permanent basis in the summer.

The 21-year-old moved to the Hammers from Linfield in January 2022 and impressed hugely for the club’s youth teams, scoring almost 50 goals for the U18s and U21s, although it wasn’t enough to earn more than a few fleeting opportunities for the first team, restricted to just two Premier League outings from the bench last term.

Instead, Marshall had domestic loan moves to West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield Town, where he was named Player of the Year, before spending the second half of last season at German Bundesliga 2 outfit Bochum, netting twice in 16 matches. The forward then opted to end his four years in London by heading to Kenilworth Road in the summer on a permanent basis, where he has battled it out with Nahki Wells for the striking berth, scoring four goals in 13 League One outings, including a stunning strike in the 2-0 victory over Stockport County.

Marshall won his 17th cap for his country when featuring in the Nations League draw against Georgia last month, and is now back in the squad, along with Jamie Donley, for their upcoming matches with Ukraine and Hungary. O’Neill, who gave the striker his international debut against Denmark in June 2023, told the Belfast News Letter about his involvement in Marshall opting to depart the London Stadium, saying: “I encouraged him to make the move on a permanent basis because I think that you go through a loan scenario and it's difficult.

"I have been on the other side of that as a manager and brought players in on loan, I know that sometimes it's not always in the best interest of the player. Callum going to Luton, I think was positive. The fact that Jack (Wilshere) really wanted him, they obviously had to pay a decent fee for him, and it's now down to Callum really.

"He's at a club that I think should suit him as a striker. Luton will have a lot of the ball in a lot of games in League One and it's the next step. Callum's already been in League One at Huddersfield and had a good loan, he then obviously had the situation at VfL Bochum which was slightly different, and now he is at Luton. I think it's a perfect move for him, an opportunity to kick on and show people what he is.

"We know Callum is capable of scoring goals, so I suppose the ball is in his court now, I think he's made the right decision. I think when you go as a permanent player, you're treated differently within the club a little bit as well, that's just the nature of it. "They will see Callum as someone that they believe can take them to the next level. He's certainly someone that has the potential to be a real asset for the club.”