Gideon Kodua has risen to a number of challenges throughout his young career, and the 19-year-old did so again during West Ham United’s pre-season campaign.
The Hammers’ 2023 FA Youth Cup-winning captain made his mark at the Academy of Football as a forward, most notably scoring a 30-yard lob in the final victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in May last year.
However, this summer, Kodua has been deployed in an unaccustomed right-back or right wing-back role by new first-team Head Coach Julen Lopetegui.
While the Spaniard has not publicly explained the teenager’s switch, Kodua’s skillset suggest he could thrive in a more defensive position, while also using his attacking instincts to provide a threat from out wide.
As one might expect, it will take the Newham-born player time to learn how to play further back, as he himself admitted when speaking to West Ham TV following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Crystal Palace in Tampa, Florida.
Overall, however, Kodua is ready to show he can perform well, wherever he is asked to line up.
“It’s been a really good experience,” he confirmed. “We’ve had a new gaffer come in, so it was always going to be a challenge learning the new tactics he wants us to play, but I think, as the season goes on, we’ll do well.
“For me personally, it’s been a really good trip. Obviously, I was mainly looking to get first-team experience. There are always positives and no negatives when playing first team.
“With fitness, especially training and playing in this heat, when we go back to England, it’ll be easier because the conditions are not as extreme.
“It’s about first-team experience really, getting in the manager’s eye and trying to impress, and just taking my opportunity.”
Kodua has now played on the right in all four pre-season matches. Against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Jacksonville, he was up against Portugal U21 winger Rodrigo Gomes, who scored two goals, and said he learned a lot from the experience.
“On the first day, it was probably a bit of a shock, but I think I have adapted and kind of shown myself in a new position,” he continued. “It has been tough, especially in the Wolves game when I found it a bit difficult in some situations, but I kept my head up and went again against Palace and did better with the situations I’ve got. It’s a weird one, playing in a new position, but I think I’ve done well.
“It’s about showing I’m versatile and it’s been a good challenge, really.”
