West Ham United midfielder Freddie Potts looks set to pay the ultimate price for his red card against [Burton Albion in today’s FA Cup](https://www.claretandhugh.info/burton-0-1-west-ham-player-ratings-as-summerville-rescues-hammers/) tie.
Up until that moment, Potts had appeared to be Nuno Espírito Santo’s go-to option as first-choice replacement — a role that had suddenly become far more significant given that £20 million January signing Pablo now appears likely to miss the remainder of the season.
If Nuno’s selection against Manchester United was anything to go by, Potts seemed set to be the main beneficiary of Pablo’s absence.
It would have been reasonable to assume he was in line to start West Ham’s next [Premier League](https://www.claretandhugh.info/premier-league-bio/) match against AFC Bournemouth next weekend.
But that red card changes everything.
Magassa Now Favourite to Step In
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With Potts now facing suspension, the door has opened for Soungoutou Magassa.
The young Frenchman wasn’t outstanding against Burton — nobody was — but he did enough to put himself firmly in contention for the Bournemouth game in Potts’ absence.
And if Magassa plays anywhere near his potential next weekend, I wouldn’t be surprised if he keeps the shirt.
Sometimes opportunity arrives in the most unexpected ways — and this could be Magassa’s moment to finally cement himself in Nuno’s starting XI.