‘Nuno Espirito Santo has fixed West Ham problem with homegrown prospect’
Nuno Espirito Santo is slowly fixing the errors presented to him at West Ham United.
Nuno still has work to do for West Ham, with the Irons still sitting uncomfortably in the Premier League relegation zone.
By all means, it’s been a poor start to the season for the Hammers, but Nuno is doing his best to change fortunes at E20 with consecutive victories secured before the break.
Results have begun to come under the Portuguese, and as a result, individual performances have lifted, with Lucas Paqueta now back to his best.
However, West Ham fans may need to thank one player in particular, who has been touted as the difference-maker under Nuno.
Ian Darke says West Ham now have a ‘pulse’ with Freddie Potts
Freddie Potts has been with West Ham since the age of six, but he has had to wait until now for his opportunity to shine for the Hammers.
The youngster was loaned out to the Championship with Portsmouth for the 2024-25 season, where he established himself as a regular starter before heading back to Rush Green this summer.
- Potts played 38 times for Pompey
- He grabbed four assists
- Potts had only made three West Ham appearances until this season
Now, Potts is seen as the solution to Nuno’s “problematic” midfield area, with Ian Darke sharing what he learned while at Fratton Park.
Speaking to ESPN, Darke said: “It has been a difficult season, but homegrown prospect Freddie Potts’ introduction has added control, energy and good decision-making to the problematic midfield area.
“Potts learned a lot on loan in the Championship with Portsmouth last season and is using it to good effect now as the Hammers start to show signs of a pulse.”
The 22-year-old’s statistics so far this season prove just how important he can be for the Hammers.
Potts effect at West Ham in numbers
Potts has been compared to Declan Rice, with a resemblance in the way he possesses the ability to break up play and distribute the ball forward.
The defensive midfielder rarely got a look in under Graham Potter, and it’s only been since Nuno’s arrival that we have seen his true potential.
| Games (starts) | Tackles per game | Passing accuracy | Average rating |
| 6 (2) | 1.5 | 81% | 6.73 |
Potts has started twice this campaign, and they have both come in West Ham’s consecutive victories before the international break against Newcastle and Burnley.
It’s no coincidence that the best performances from the Irons this season have come when Potts has started in the heart of midfield.
There’s still a long way to go in the season yet, and West Ham are still in with a shot of winning the FA Cup, but that is a distant dream right now.
Who knows? Hammers fans could see Potts lift silverware in May if he keeps his good form up.
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