Daniel Lewis

Sat 19 August 2023 18:40, UK

James Ward-Prowse says it is “the dream” to match David Beckham’s Premier League free-kick goals record on his West Ham debut against Chelsea.

The England international joined West Ham from Southampton in a £30million deal on Monday [14 August] and is in line to feature against the Blues on Sunday [20 August].

Ward-Prowse has scored 17 goals via free-kicks in the Premier League, which is just one short of equalling Manchester United legend Beckham’s long-standing record.

Asked what it would mean to move level with Beckham by scoring on his West Ham debut in a London derby with Chelsea, Ward-Prowse told Sky Sports [18 August]: “That’s the dream. It’s something I’ve been thinking about all for the whole week really.

“But you can’t control when those things will happen. You don’t get many free-kicks in a game so you have to make sure when you have them, you make the most of the opportunity.”

Inevitable

Ward-Prowse has built up a reputation as being the finest set-piece taker in the Premier League thanks to his regular goalscoring feats across his 11 seasons as a Southampton player.

The 28-year-old earned a move back to the top flight following Southampton’s relegation and has plenty of time on his side to match and then usurp childhood hero Beckham.

Ironically, Ward-Prowse’s most recent free-kick goal came against Chelsea on 18 February, and he will be looking to repeat the trick when the Blues make the trip to London Stadium this weekend.

To put Ward-Prowse’s – and indeed Beckham’s – achievement into some context, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gianfranco Zola are joint-third on the list with 12 each.

There is an inevitability about the midfielder sitting top of the list outright one day, and you would certainly not bet against him moving a step closer to doing so with a “dream” debut moment against Chelsea.

In other West Ham news, an update has been provided on the Irons’ interest in Ajax winger Mohammed Kudus.