Callum Marshall insists he has “no problem” dropping into League One with Luton Town, believing regular football and the Hatters’ attacking style will do more for his career than previous loan, after he left Championship side West Ham United.
The 21-year-old Northern Ireland international completed a permanent move to Kenilworth Road last week after leaving the Hammers, where he came through the academy. During his time in east London he gained valuable experience on loan at Huddersfield Town and German side Bochum, as well as playing for the Northern Ireland national team.
Marshall scored 10 goals and was named Huddersfield’s Player of the Year during his spell in League One for the 2024/25 season, before spending the second half of last term in the Bundesliga 2. Those experiences, he believes, have prepared him to make an immediate impact under Jack Wilshere.
Asked whether he had any concerns about moving into England’s third tier, having made his Premier League debut last term with the Hammers, Marshall said: “No, I don’t have any qualms about it. I know that the only way to play in higher leagues is to build yourself a name here. Luton are going to be, hopefully, pushing for promotion this year. So, I’m here, I’ve signed a deal for a couple years now, so hopefully in those couple of years we can go up as a team and then I’ll be playing the Championship, but I have no problem playing League One.
“I just want to be playing football and in a team that plays football, that’s going to suit me and do me well in the long run.
“It all links in together. If you’re pushing for promotion, then most of the time you’re going to be the better team in most games, going to be dominating the ball and creating chances, which for a striker is the ideal solution.
“I think a few teams that I have been at before, were a bit more defensive-minded and they had less possession, so I think this season I think was important for me to get into a team that was creating a lot of chances, dominating games.
“And then as a striker, you’re getting more chances getting on the end of things.”
Marshall’s successful loan spell at Huddersfield, where he played 46 times, convinced him he is ready to be more than just a promising youngster.
“I don’t think I’m coming here as a junior player. I know I’m still young, but I don’t feel like I’m coming in like I’m not ready,” he said.
“I think I’m ready to play, so hopefully the season goes well, especially because I’ve had a few different experiences, obviously. I was playing a bit of first team before I came over to West Ham, at Linfield, and then I worked my way up through West Ham, and then played at Huddersfield, and went to Germany as well. So I’ve had a lot of different experiences. I would say you have a bit of experience under my belt now.”
The striker admitted leaving West Ham was not part of his original plan, but accepted the time had come to establish himself elsewhere.
Marshall said: “I was disappointed to leave in the end. I didn’t think I’d be leaving so soon, but the decisions were made, and then I needed to find somewhere else to try and build a career for myself. Hopefully, it’s good for me in the long run, but the West Ham fans have always, always backed me, so it’s nice to hear that people [Hammers fans] are disappointed that I was leaving.”
Marshall revealed Wilshere was a major factor in choosing Luton over other options after previously coming up against him at youth level, and scoring about the former England midfielder’s Arsenal under-18s side in the 2023 FA Youth Cup final.
“I played against Jack a few times whenever he was [coaching] at Arsenal in their under-18s,” he said.
“I like the way he played football and the meetings I had with him, I always knew it [Luton] was a big club and I knew that they’d be pushing for promotion this year. I just weighed everything up and the stuff that I was told in the meetings sounded good to me.
“I decided to come here and hopefully it’s good for my career in the long run.”
He also arrives with familiar faces already at Kenilworth Road, having played alongside Gideon Kodua – who also scored in that youth cup final – and Harrison Ashby at West Ham, while Northern Ireland team-mate George Saville helped him settle quickly.
“I text Gids, and I know Harrison, he was at West Ham when I was there and obviously Sav plays Northern Ireland with me, so yeah, it was good to know a couple people, coming in to training. It feels like I’ve been here for a couple weeks already, so yeah, I feel comfortable,” Marshall said.
The striker believes Luton will provide the platform he needs to prove himself as a central striker after often being used in wider roles elsewhere.
“I think I made my debut when I was 18. I’ve been playing a lot out wide for the national team, but I know I won’t have half the career as a wide man as I would as a striker,” he said.
“That’s another reason why I came here because the manager was quite clear that he was bringing me in as a nine.
“I think I need to show that I am a nine and build a name for myself rather than as a wide man or a 10.”
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