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West Ham United have handed Joe Powell a new contract, the club have confirmed.

What’s the word?

The attacking midfielder has extended his stay at the club by one year following a promising 2018-19 season.

A versatile player, the 20-year-old can play on both wings and through the middle and enjoyed a loan spell at Northampton Town this term.

He played 10 times in League Two, scoring twice and laying on one assist, and has clearly outgrown Premier League 2 level; he played 12 times and scored seven goals while adding six assists.

Powell was also on the bench for the Hammers’ 1-1 draw with Leicester City in the Premier League and made his first-team debut in the EFL Cup thumping of Macclesfield Town, laying on two assists in a 28-minute cameo in the 8-0 win.

And the youngster is hopeful of adding to those appearances this term, telling the club’s website: “I’m delighted as I’ve got another year now to try and prove myself and hopefully this is the one where I push on into the first-team squad.

“I can’t wait for pre-season to start now and hopefully I can have a much better season than I did last year, then West Ham will want me to stay for the long term.”

First-team beckoning?

It is easy to latch onto youngsters coming through the academy at West Ham and tip them to make a breakthrough.

But Powell looks to be set for much more involvement next season.

He is perhaps right to claim he simply has another year to prove himself, but he has the natural ability to feature, particularly with Mark Noble approaching the twilight of his career and Jack Wilshere notably injury-prone.

Powell has been with the club since the age of eight and his longevity is likely to be rewarded next term.

And if he makes a first-team spot his own, he could end up saving the Irons a fair few million in the process.

Either way it's a huge make-or-break season for the promising youngster.