Brett Hodgson could potentially hand out as many as four debuts on Friday night when he takes his Hull FC side to face Catalans Dragons.
With a heap of players missing through Covid, suspension and injury, the Black and Whites head coach has been forced to dig deep into his roster just to name a 19-man squad.
As such, youngsters Marcus Walker, Will Wallis, Joel Speed and Jacob Hookem will all travel to Perpignan and there’s a chance they won’t just be making up the numbers.
At least two are guaranteed to be in the line-up and there is a possibility that someone could start given FC’s shortage of recognised backs within the squad.
With that in mind, Hull Live takes a look at the four youngsters who will make the journey.
Marcus Walker
The Pocklington-born utility back is the only one of the quartet who has been named in a matchday squad before as he was named on the bench against Huddersfield Giants in June.
While Aidan Burrell made his senior debut that evening, Walker watched the entire 80 minutes from the sidelines, failing to make it onto the field during the tight victory over the West Yorkshire outfit.
Marcus Walker in first-team training with Hull FC
(Image: SW Pix)
However, Walker, who turns 19 today, stands a good chance of making his bow on Friday night and with Hull short of back options he could even be asked to start.
He can play as a full-back, where he impressed recently against Hull KR in the academy derby, centre and half-back and Hodgson will be more than aware of his versatility having seen him train with the first-team regularly this year.
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Joel Speed
The England Academy international was another to impress against the Robins last month, scoring the first try of the game and making his presence felt on the right wing.
Speed is still only 18, but he’s highly thought of at the Black and Whites and he was one of the eight players called up to train with the first-team at the start of the season.
He ruptured his ACL in 2019, but he’s bounced back positively from that and the former West Hull wide man will be hoping for the chance to make a debut for his hometown club on Friday night.
Joel Speed in Hull FC training
(Image: SW Pix)
Will Wallis
This is the first time Wallis has been named in a travelling squad and even if he doesn’t make it onto the field of play, it won’t be a wasted journey.
The back-rower has been working closely with the likes of Manu Ma’u and Jordan Lane since stepping up into the first-team environment at the start of the year and witnessing how they prepare for a game will certainly provide an invaluable experience.
The former Beverley Braves youngster has been involved regularly with the academy side this season and he’ll be looking to take the next step sooner rather than later.
Will Wallis (left) with Marc Sneyd and Ligi Sao in pre-season training
(Image: Hull FC)
Jacob Hookem
The half-back has been impressing FC coaches for some time and he’s even caught the eye of Marc Sneyd, too, who spoke highly of him during pre-season earlier this year.
He’s not short of confidence and he provides a vocal presence, even in first-team training, as he attempts to direct play and push his teammates around the field.
The 18-year-old made a first-team appearance and scored a try in the pre-season loss to Halifax last year and after pulling the strings for Yorkshire in their Origin Academy win over Lancashire last week, alongside his Hull teammates Alex Gibson and Nick Staveley, he’ll be full of self-belief.
