James Ward-Prowse ‘lucky’ after Graham Potter development at West Ham
James Ward-Prowse has had a rollercoaster career at West Ham United, since he arrived from Southampton in 2023.
The midfielder and set-piece specialist left St Mary’s after over 400 games, many of them as captain, and remained in the Premier League with the Hammers.
He was not fancied by Julen Lopetegui at the start of this season, however, and moved on loan to Nottingham Forest – whose exceeding of their own expectations left Ward-Prowse behind, and he was sent back to East London.
Graham Potter has fully reintegrated the 11-cap England man back into the side, though it now comes to the chagrin of many frustrated West Ham supporters.
Ward-Prowse ‘lucky’ Potter came in at West Ham – expert
West Ham fans have appeared to lose patience with Ward-Prowse, believing the 30-year-old has contributed little in his recent appearances.
Potter once again started him in the hub of the midfield against the head coach’s former club Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (26 April), though hooked him at half-time in favour of Niclas Fullkrug in a system shuffle.
Ward-Prowse was consequently off the field for much of the drama of the game, in which the Hammers led as late on as the 89th minute, only to emerge empty-handed from the Amex.
TV commentator Ian Darke, hailing from Ward-Prowse’s hometown of Portsmouth, has followed the former Southampton skipper’s career closely but believes he is fortunate to be in the West Ham side due to Potter’s appointment back in January.
The timing of the managerial change offered the midfielder a chance to return early from his loan and play regular football at the London Stadium once again, in what Darke described as a “comeback story of the season”.
“Potter really seems to rate Ward-Prowse. He’s been one of the comeback stories of the season,” he exclusively told West Ham Zone.
“He was out of favour at Forest and under Lopetegui as well, and it’s a classic case of differing and subjective managerial opinions.
“He’s lucky Potter wants him in the engine room and his West Ham career has been revived.”
Potter has Ward-Prowse firmly in favour, but it could change
Ward-Prowse has started each of the last nine games for West Ham, contributing just one assist and no goals.
He has his role in the team which offers balance – and of course his trademark set-piece threat – which Potter values dear, but his half-time withdrawal at Brighton could be an indication that the head coach has had enough.
| James Ward-Prowse | Premier League minutes played |
| West Ham United (January-present) | 787 |
| Nottingham Forest (August-January) | 399 |
The Irons next take on London rivals Tottenham Hotspur (4 May), with both having suffered utterly underwhelming league campaigns.