West Ham United’s Ollie Scarles is refusing to take his spot for granted as he bids to stake his claim in Nuno Espírito Santo’s first-team plans. The 20-year-old left-back has spent the opening days of pre-season proving his fitness and hunger, starting both matches so far and looking eager to impress ahead of Sunday’s trip to Rangers.

What did Scarles say about his role?

Scarles admits he’s still learning his trade at senior level despite making his first-team bow aged just 16 years and eleven months in a 3-0 UEFA Europa Conference League win over FCSB in Bucharest. He told whufc.com: “I need the opportunity to express myself and show what I can do. I need to earn my spot and I’ll give everything I can to do that.” Scarles has racked up 34 appearances across all competitions since that Thursday night in Romania, but insists he’s still improving in every area.

How has Scarles developed at West Ham United?

Since his Premier League debut against Arsenal two years ago, Scarles has felt part of the first-team picture. He credits the competition within the squad, including Malick Diouf’s rise and the experience of Kyle Walker-Peters and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, for sharpening his game. “Last season was good for my development,” he said. “The club’s campaign wasn’t great, but for me it was beneficial to learn off different players.” League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 18th in Premier League, 39 pts, 10W-9D-19L from 38 games, recent form WLLLW.

What’s next for Scarles and the Hammers?

Scarles has started both pre-season outings at Southend United and Stevenage, showing composure at the back and willingness to join attacks. With Rangers looming at Ibrox on Sunday, he’s desperate to keep himself in Espírito Santo’s thoughts as West Ham United chase a deeper Premier League push. “We’ll need a big squad with three games a week,” Scarles added. “It’s going to be a lot of games, a lot of quick turnovers, so we need everyone fit and ready to step in whenever it’s needed.”

Six Academy graduates who shared Scarles’ FA Youth Cup triumph are now in the first-team squad, including Kaelan Casey, George Earthy and Lewis Orford. “It’s nice to have all the boys I’ve grown up with now around the first team,” Scarles said. “It feels really good to have them here.”