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West Ham Academy Player Follow Up: Reece Burke

ByHenry Tomlinson|
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: Reece Burke of West Ham United celebrates scoring a goal to make the score 1-0 in extra time during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay match between West Ham United and Shrewsbury Town at London Stadium on January 16, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: Reece Burke of West Ham United celebrates scoring a goal to make the score 1-0 in extra time during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay match between West Ham United and Shrewsbury Town at London Stadium on January 16, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Once a promising centre-back coming through the ranks at West Ham, Burke’s has failed to reach the potential he once showed.

In 2015, the Englishman was given a run in the West Ham first-team, following an injury to left-back Aaron Cresswell. Reece Burke did well in these season-ending run of games under manager Sam Allardyce. Once the season ended Allardyce was replaced by Slaven Bilic who in turn signed experienced centre-back Angelo Ogbonna in the summer.

The Italian’s arrival, combined with the existing defender cohort of James Collins, James Tomkins and Winston Reid made Burke’s route to the first-team impossible. Burke would go on to spend time on loan at Wigan, Bolton and Bradford City. (Winning player of the year at Bradford)

Despite these promising spells away, Burke would only be given sporadic chances in the first-team. The 23-year-old’s best moment for the club came against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup. Burke scored a late extra-time volley, assisted by Toni Martinez to send the Hammers to the next round.

The truth is Burke never really got a chance to prove himself again at West Ham. Burke left the club permanently in 2018, joining Hull City in a deal believed to be in the region of £1.5 million. The defender has become a regular at the Tigers since he joined.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 27: Jude Bellingham of Birmingham City goes past Reece Burke during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Hull City at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium on June 27, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 27: Jude Bellingham of Birmingham City goes past Reece Burke during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Hull City at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium on June 27, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Burke has racked over seventy appearances for Hull City over the last two season. Despite becoming a vital member of the Hull team, Burke has not been able to stop the Tigers falling out of the Championship and into League One.

The former Hammer was part of the Hull City team that was torn apart by Wigan. The Tigers were embarrassed 8-0, which pretty much condemned the club to relegation. Even with Burke’s best efforts, Hull conceded eighty-seven goals, the worst in the league. Now in League One, Burke is still only 23-years-old and has time to rebuild his career.

If Burke can turn his career around, he could still perform at a reasonable level. The Englishman was liked by the fans when he left and would be welcomed back if the opportunity ever arose.