West Ham’s return to pre-season training yesterday was notable mainly for the absences. No Cresswell, Fabianski, Coufal, Ings, Antonio, Soler , Zouma of course, or even loanee Evan Ferguson from last season’s team sheet. Aguerd apparently out of the frame and Cornet – well, being Cornet. That’s a pretty big chunk – nine players – out of a squad who won’t be talking the field in claret and blue come August against [Sunderland.](https://www.claretandhugh.info/aguerd-blame-game-has-got-it-all-wrong/)
Reams have been written about the lack as yet of incoming replacements. But the one little ray of sunshine that Hammers fans didn’t really focus on – who will seem like a new signing – was **Crysencio Summerville**, pictured training yesterday as he continues through his rehabilitation.
We never saw Summerville at his best with Lopetegui, a few bit-parts and substitutions, and then injured in the FA Cup third round defeat just after Christmas, which was his only 45 minutes under Graham Potter. The former Leeds player of the Championship will be like a new signing, such was the rarity of his use last term.
It is very easy to get washed away in the wave of doom amongst Hammers fans- according to [‘that’ poll in the NY Times,](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6473194/2025/07/07/fan-survey-west-ham-results/) 89% reported as being despondent about the season ahead.
Whilst not wanting to live in a make-believe land of denial, young players likely to progress through towards the first team – Potts, Earthy, Casey, Orford, Marshall, and new boy Cummings surely give something positive to latch onto whilst the headlines might make for less optimistic reading. Ollie Scarles is now a genuine first team player – how many of these names will join him on the team sheet soon?
And what of “wonderkid” (for I know how you love that word) Luis Guilherme: 2025-6 could be a breakthrough season for so many West Ham youngsters that despondency is surely a little premature.