James Ward-Prowse verdict shared after West Ham United return
Phil McNulty believes that James Ward-Prowse could “flourish” under Graham Potter after his return to West Ham United.
The midfielder was brought back from his season-long loan at Nottingham Forest in order to try and solve their midfield issues.
Writing for the BBC Sport website (4 February), McNulty shared his thoughts on how the second half of the season could pan out for West Ham.
“I truly believe they have done a really smart piece of business in bringing in Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton,” he wrote.
“He is a genuine talent, still only 20, who has been held back by injuries. He will also enjoy working under Graham Potter again. I also think James Ward-Prowse is another who could flourish under Potter.
“I think Tim Steidten’s days have been numbered for a while. He had an uneasy relationship with former managers David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui and it is clear Potter will want his own people around him and to move the club forward in his own way.”
West Ham bringing James Ward-Prowse back was a good move
While Ward-Prowse isn’t the fastest of central midfielders, it feels like he’s a much better player than the likes of Guido Rodriguez.
The Englishman was loaned out at the start of the season by Julen Lopetegui as he didn’t feel like he fit in the system he wanted to play, which is why players such as Carlos Soler and Rodriguez were brought in.
The former Southampton man was expected to be a regular starter for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side but instead, he’s often been left on the sidelines which is no good for anyone involved.
So, the fact that the Hammers were having midfield problems and didn’t have all that much money to rectify the situation with, bringing Ward-Prowse back makes a lot of sense.
His set-piece taking alongside his keen eye for a pass and a goal are just some of the assets that he’s going to bring to Potter’s line-up with creativity being one of the major things they need to sort.
Only time will tell if the move will pay off but on paper, it seems like a smart decision.
In other West Ham news, an update has been shared on the future of Vladimir Coufal.
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