The glowing praise provided by Robson back in August, before he was promoted to Nuno Espirito Santo\u2019s<\/a> first-team staff, were mirrored by Colchester manager Danny Cowley when Kante channeled the Arsenal icon<\/a> during another barnstorming performance for West Ham United\u2019s<\/a> reserve team.<\/p>\n As for Callum Marshall<\/a>, their talented Northern Irish hitman, Kevin Keen is reminded of Harry Kane<\/a> when watching the former Huddersfield Town and West Brom loanee drill finishes into the bottom corner.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a poacher instinct to him,\u201d Keen, the Hammers\u2019 Lead Professional Development coach, told The Standard<\/a>. \u201cHis goal in the Youth Cup final [when West Ham battered Arsenal 5-1<\/a> in 2023] sums it up. From probably about three or four yards, he\u2019s got between bodies and volleyed it in.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s also got that ability to score from near the edge of the box, a little bit like Harry Kane hits those low shots into far corners.\u201d<\/p>\n El Hadji Malick Diouf<\/a>, meanwhile, was nicknamed \u2018Marcelo\u2019 back home in his native Senegal in homage to the legendary Real Madrid left-back.<\/p>\n How far can Malick Diouf go? And what does he need to do to become a world-class left-back? <\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n West Ham United\u2019s El Hadji Malick Diouf has shades of Real Madrid icon Marcelo<\/p>\n This week, the Premier League<\/a> published a video on their official YouTube channel all about Diouf\u2019s rise to prominence, made up of interviews from his parents, his close friends, and his former coaches in West Africa.<\/p>\n The West Ham flyer has made \u2018incredible\u2019 progress<\/a> over the last couple of seasons. From academy football in Senegal to the pinnacle of the Premier League, via spells at Tromso in Norway and Czech champions Slavia Prague.<\/p>\n \u201cMalick and I have known each other since we were kids,\u201d says Mouhamed, a childhood friend from back home in Senegal. <\/p>\n \u201cHe was so passionate about football that sometimes he would skip classes! But that didn\u2019t stop him being a good student. <\/p>\n \u201cHe could make a difference at any point in the game with a magical little move. He had that in him. The neighbourhood noticed that at a young age and called him Marcelo because he was so skilful.\u201d<\/p>\n While Diouf is living the dream at West Ham<\/a>, the \u00a319 million signing has lofty ambitions<\/a>. He idolises Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain. Who knows, one day he may be in contention to replace arguably the finest left-back in world football today.<\/p>\n The crown sitting atop Mendes\u2019 head once belonged to Marcelo, of course. A footballer who almost transcended his position, and alongside Barcelona great Dani Alves was key to the emergence of full-backs as playmakers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey called him Marcelo. I said his name was not Marcelo, his name was El Hadji Malick Diouf! \u2018Who is Marcelo?\u2019, I asked. They responded, \u2018Marcelo is a Real Madrid football player\u2019,\u201d explains Diouf\u2019s father, determined to ensure his son makes a name for himself in his own right rather than piggybacking on that of another.<\/p>\n \u201cI told them to call him by his real name and not Marcelo or any other player\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n Just how on earth can West Ham BEAT Man City? \ud83d\ude31 <\/p>\n And which Hammers stars can make the difference on Saturday?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n Nuno Espirito Santo will need Kyle Walker-Peters and Ollie Scarles during AFCON<\/p>\n![\"West](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/West-Ham-Diouf-quotes-819x1024.jpg\")
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Photo by Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Offside via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Erling](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Erling-Haaland-Nuno-quotes-819x1024.jpg\")
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