Hammers boss Graham Potter has a very specific position in mind for one exciting West Ham star – and thinks he can be the Premier League’s best in it.
A number of players have benefited immensely as a result of Graham Potter replacing Julen Lopetegui as West Ham manager.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Max Kilman have, in fairness, been consistently good all season for the Hammers.
Academy graduate Ollie Scarles has clearly been the biggest beneficiary of Potter’s arrival in east London.
It remains to be seen whether other West Ham starlets like George Earthy, Freddie Potts and Lewis Orford will be in time too.
Potter’s positive impact on Hammers stars
James Ward-Prowse has gone from Nottingham Forest outcast to West Ham starter again, so he’s another in that bracket.
Edson Alvarez has arguably improved under the new manager too – albeit from a very low starting point.
The hope is that Jean-Clair Todibo will really start to motor and show his class for West Ham in time with Potter as well.
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The Frenchman certainly has all the attributes to be a perfect fit for his system.
Frustratingly, though, it is the player who looked set to reap the rewards of Potter’s appointment most who has not be around to do so.
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Crysencio Summerville excited West Ham fans from the moment they saw him after his £26m arrival from Leeds in the summer.
Yet he barely featured under Lopetegui, much to the exasperation of supporters and the player himself.
Even when out of form Mohammed Kudus was banned for five games, Summerville barely got a look in.
All eyes were on what Potter would do with Summerville.
There was relief when he started the Englishman’s first game in charge – at Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Summerville was the best player on the pitch as the Hammers took a one-goal lead in the first half.
Potter tells Summerville he can be the Premier League’s best
The Dutchman had Villa on toast, terrifying Unai Emery’s side with his pace and skill off the right hand side.
As seems to be West Ham’s eternally bad luck – Summerville was struck down with an injury and had to come off at half-time.
The Irons ended up losing their grip on the game and went out of the cup.
The 23-year-old has not been seen since following a setback in his recovery.
That has given rise to all kind of claims, counter claims and rumours.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
But Summerville has clarified speculation over his West Ham future as it was revealed he will return to action in April.
And when he is back fully fit and firing, he has a lofty goal to aim for.
Because Potter has told the West Ham star he can be the Premier League’s best in his position.
And he has a very specific position in mind – as the key starting star on the left of West Ham’s attack.
That’s according to Summerville himself.
Hammers boss has very specific position in mind for Summerville
“I think every club is different, and I think it’s maybe on the coaches who made me play a certain way, something that has helped me in my career,” Summerville told Hammers fans in a Q and A.
“For example, a coach from Leeds United wanted me to play as a number 10 more, and our coach wants me to be more of a left winger and be the best one-on-one player (in the league), so I think I have learned a lot of things from different coaches.”
And Summerville is confident West Ham can emerge from an unexpectedly poor season to be much more competitive under Potter.
“Some of the results haven’t been what we were hoping for, but I’m confident there are really positive times ahead,” Summerville added.
Let’s hope they’re both right.
Because there’s no doubt Summerville has all the attributes and talent to be exactly what Potter envisages with the Hammers in the coming seasons.