Crysencio Summerville has been one of the rare bright spots in a dismal 18 months for West Ham.
Not just in terms of the Dutchman’s exciting performances on the pitch for the Hammers.
But the fact Crysencio Summerville was one of the signings West Ham got absolutely spot on.
At 22, now 23, Summerville was the perfect age profile and his ability, pace and eye for goal meant he was exactly the kind of player Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten pledged to rebuild West Ham around.
At £26m he looks a bargain too.
Hammers fans were extremely frustrated by the way Lopetegui treated Summerville during his ill-fated and short tenure.
There was great hope the former Leeds man would be fully unleashed when Graham Potter arrived.
West Ham’s cruel Summerville blow
And so he was.
Summerville was the best player on the pitch as West Ham started Potter’s reign in style by taking a first half lead at Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
But he went off injured at half-time and has not been seen in the claret and blue since.
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Summerville’s substitution was initially described as “precautionary” by Potter.
Sure enough a couple of weeks later the attacker was back training, much to the delight of fans.
He suffered a devastating setback, though, and Potter revealed Summerville would be out until April.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Terrible news then leaked from inside the club, claiming Summerville could be out into next season.
The source claimed the uncertainty over the winger was a result of Summerville refusing to have surgery on the issue.
Fans were rocked by the news and West Ham had to clarify the Summerville remarks after they sparked an angry backlash from supporters who felt he was being thrown under the bus for choosing to heal naturally.
Summerville back soon says Hammers journalist
The unusual situation has led to idle speculation that Summerville may be unhappy at the club and doesn’t want to risk another setback in a bid to push for a summer move.
But there is some great news regarding the flying Dutchman.
Because Summerville has made an astonishing statement about his West Ham future ahead of a return.
Roshane Thomas is The Athletic’s West Ham reporter.
He attends press conferences and often gets the inside track on goings-on at the club.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Summerville’s astonishing statement on West Ham future
And Thomas has dismissed claims Summerville will likely miss the rest of the season, stating that he has been training hard at Rush Green – even on his days off – in a bid to return to action in a jam-packed April.
In fact Thomas says Summerville believes he will be at “full fitness” towards the end of April despite being out for three months.
The news gets even better, though, from the man himself.
Summerville has made a mockery of any suggestion he might be unhappy in east London, telling fans that he loves living in London and playing for West Ham.
So much that he wants to lead the club to trophies and be considered a West Ham legend.
Summerville: ‘I want to be a West Ham legend’
“In the beginning, it’s always difficult to come into a new team, a new place, and also a new city, but I think the people here, they helped me feel at home straight away, and I’m grateful that I can now call it my home,” Summerville told West Ham fans in a Q and A.
“When I came into this club and team, I saw straight away the nice people they have here, and the group is very tight and together, so that helped me a lot…
“I want to be very successful, and I want to win trophies. I want to be a big, big player for West Ham, and I want to leave as a legend…
“I want to be remembered as one of the best Dutch players from West Ham!”
This may just be the best West Ham related news for several weeks.
Summerville is going to be a fundamental player for the Hammers under Potter.
And let’s hope his comeback in April all goes according to plan.