Bethany Patrick is a football writer based in Manchester, UK.  

Her work focuses on the EFL, with particular interest in football governance, supporter culture, and fan experience and access.
 

Bethany is a director of the award-winning Sheffield Wednesday Women’s Supporters Group, where she works on fan engagement, strategy and campaigns for greater inclusion across the game.

She regularly represents supporters in governance spaces across Europe, including government panels and discussions around football regulation and the supporter's voice.
 

She has previously worked as a researcher for The Stretford Paddock and is a regular contributor to The Wednesday Week.

Edvin Austbo has given West Ham United supporters another reason to question Nuno Espirito Santo's team selections after training footage of the Norwegian winger emerged on social media.

The 21-year-old has made an impressive impact in limited Championship minutes this season, but he has struggled to earn a regular starting place despite delivering goals and assists from the bench.

With West Ham preparing to face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, supporters are increasingly convinced that Austbo deserves an opportunity from the first whistle.

His latest training footage has only added to the calls for Nuno to give the summer signing a more prominent role.

Edvin Austbo is making a strong case for more West Ham minutes

Austbo arrived at the London Stadium from Norwegian side Viking in August for a reported £18million, having been named Eliteserien Young Player of the Year in 2025.

The winger has already demonstrated why West Ham were willing to invest in his potential, producing several eye-catching cameos despite limited opportunities to impress from the start.

His performance against Derby County in September offered an early glimpse of his quality.

Introduced in the 77th minute, Austbo scored his first goal in English football before setting up Mohamadou Kante in stoppage time.

He subsequently delivered another decisive display against Lincoln City, scoring and assisting in the Hammers's emphatic 6-0 victory after coming on at half-time.

Austbo needed just three minutes to find the net against Lincoln, curling an excellent effort into the top corner before providing an assist for Pablo.

Despite those contributions, Nuno has continued to favour Manor Solomon on the left flank.

The Israeli international offers experience and versatility, but his recent performances have intensified the debate about whether Austbo should be given a starting opportunity.

The latest footage of Austbo training has prompted a familiar response from West Ham supporters on X, with many appearing to agree that the winger should be starting matches rather than being restricted to late substitutions.

One supporter delivered a straightforward verdict, posting: "START HIM".

Another fan made it clear that Austbo's opportunities should come considerably earlier in games, and that sentiment was echoed by another.

Meanwhile, others directed their frustration towards the club's social media team in jest.

Although training footage alone cannot determine a player's suitability for a particular fixture, the reaction underlines the anticipation surrounding the Norwegian's potential contribution.

West Brom clash could give Nuno Espirito Santo a decision to make

Saturday's meeting with West Brom presents Nuno with another opportunity to reconsider his attacking options.

West Ham remain firmly in the promotion picture, sitting third in the Championship table after 12 matches, but their recent defeat to Southampton has increased the importance of responding positively.

Austbo's early-season numbers suggest he deserves serious consideration.

Before the Southampton fixture, he had registered four goal involvements in just 231 Championship minutes, compared with Solomon's four in 910 minutes.

Those figures must be treated cautiously given the difference in playing time and the small sample size, but they nevertheless demonstrate the Norwegian's effectiveness when given opportunities.

There is no guarantee that Austbo would maintain that rate of production as a regular starter.

However, his pace and directness offer West Ham another attacking dimension.

The West Brom encounter could be an ideal opportunity to reward his impact from the bench and discover what he can deliver over 90 minutes.