Jack Collison tips Nathan Holland as West Ham United's brightest prospect

Former West Ham United midfielder Jack Collison has tipped Nathan Holland to "get bums off seats" if he is given a chance at the London Stadium.

The 21-year-old has only made four senior appearances for the Hammers, two of which came in the Premier League earlier this season before he was sent to Oxford United on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Collison is a former Young Hammer of the Year and spent time as a youth-team coach at the club, and he believes that there is talent within the academy should manager David Moyes be willing to take a risk.

"There are some fantastic young players there. There is certainly a pool of talent to lean on, but it seems like recent managers haven't done that. You've seen what Declan Rice has done given the opportunity, he's grabbed it with both hands," Collison told Sports Mole.

"There are players who are probably ready for first-team football and ready to make that step, but it is such a difficult situation lingering at the bottom of the table when the managers tend to lean more towards experience rather than giving youth an opportunity.

"You talk about individuals - Nathan Holland has gone out on loan to Oxford. For me he is an exciting player - he can score goals, make goals and is the sort of player the West Ham fans would love to see. He's got that flair, that hard work and he would certainly get bums off seats, but he hasn't had much of an opportunity yet.

"Even below that there are other players who are close and pushing - the likes of Conor Coventry, Dan Kemp was on the bench at the weekend. There are some talented lads, it's just finding the right situation and finding the manager that gives them the opportunity to go out there and is willing to let them make the odd mistake while trusting that they'll come good. The fruits will be there at the end of it."

West Ham are currently languishing just one place above the relegation zone, with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three.

Click here to read our full wide-ranging interview with Jack Collison.

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