Clyde Best would love to see another Bermudian breaking into the West Ham United’s first team in this the 50th year since he joined the club as a teenager.

The player most likely to do it is goalkeeper Nathan Trott, who was on West Ham’s substitute bench in last weekend’s 4-1 home defeat by Premier League champions Manchester City, because Joe Hart, on loan at West Ham from City, was ineligible to play against his parent club.

Trott also replaced him on the bench when West Ham visited the Etihad Stadium last November.

West Ham have the option of making Hart’s stay at the club a permanent one, although the promise being shown by Trott could factor into that decision.

Best, who has followed Trott’s progress at West Ham since he joined the club in 2016, is confident the 19-year-old could get the chance to play in the first team next season.

“It would be nice if he could make his debut, he’s certainly good enough,” Best said. “They all rave about him and everybody I speak to has high admiration for him.

“It’s only a matter of time before he gets in, and when he does they will have someone who was brought up through the system. That’s the way West Ham have always been. At one time you would find about eight home-grown players, now you struggle to find one or two. Look at [Mark] Noble, he’s been there all his life, having come through the system.”

Trott has had some outstanding performances for West Ham Under-23 this season, after signing an initial 2½-year deal in January 2016. He has since signed another contract that will keep him at the club until 2020.

Trott has also become an England youth player and was a member of the squad that won the European Under-19 Championship in Georgia last year. He has also now made his debut for England Under-20.

“The good ones, once they get in they stay in,” said Best of the limited opportunities facing goalkeepers. “I would hope that Nathan is of that calibre; everybody I speak to says he’s fantastic.

“You don’t just get picked to play for the England under-20s, you’ve got to be special and he is special. I’ve been told he was an outfield player and then decided to go in goal.

“I watched a clipping of him the other day on one of the sports shows and they beat somebody 1-0. If it wasn’t for him they might have lost — some of the saves he made were unbelievable. I wish him well and want him to do well, not only for himself and his family, but also for his country.”

Best added: “I went over there in 1968, I didn’t even give a thought to it that it has been 50 years. I just want the best for him. Now you have another West Ham player from the other end of the island. He’s done tremendous when you consider the short time he’s been there.”

Organisers of the Bermuda International Football Festival, to be held next week, were hoping that Trott would have been able to participate in the tournament, with West Ham bringing their under-20 team.

“We spoke to the academy manager at West Ham, Terry Westley, and we tried to get Nathan here for this tournament,” Rick Richardson, the chairman of the BIFF, said.

“They discussed it with David Moyes, the manager, and he’s reluctant to let him go.

“There is much talk around him and I know up until yesterday they were discussing whether or not we could get him here.

“He is very much in their plans.”

West Ham remain in a fight for survival, three points ahead of the relegation zone and with only three games remaining.

“We’ve got some important games coming up where we have to win one of three,” Best said.

“I want to see as many others as possible on the big stage because we’re good enough. As I always say, never let the size of the country interfere with what you want to achieve. Look at Flora Duffy, coming from little Bermuda.”