George Earthy must be next Nuno Espirito Santo star after latest West Ham scenes
George Earthy is surely on Nuno Espirito Santo’s radar at West Ham.
The Portuguese boss has recently relied on Freddie Potts as he tries to turn West Ham’s season around, and the young midfielder has paid his manager back already.
Potts has been one of West Ham’s best players in recent weeks, since he was promoted to the first-team ranks, after an impressive loan spell at Portsmouth last season.
Now, his fellow academy graduate must be the next star to break through under the former Nottingham Forest man after the latest scenes.
Earthy shines in West Ham Under-21 win
West Ham gem Earthy has struggled with injuries this season, which is perhaps why he has not been given a chance by the Portuguese boss yet.
He continued his comeback on 9 December, with an impressive performance against Colchester in the EFL Trophy.
The 21-year-old scored the winning goal to take the Hammers’ Under-21 side into the last 16, where they will face AFC Wimbledon in January.
Why Nuno must give Earthy the chance to thrive
The Irons have been accused of lacking ‘the West Ham way’ in recent years, with the typical identity of the team not reflecting what the supporters want.
They want players who fight for the badge, with a sprinkling of youth prospects who came through at Rush Green, like the likes of Declan Rice and Mark Noble, in the past.
Potts and Earthy are of that ilk, and they both need to be in and around the first team to give the Hammers their identity back, and get supporters back on board after a turbulent period on and off the pitch.
Earthy starred on loan at Bristol City in the Championship last season, showing that he has what it takes to cut it at the senior level, and once he is fully back from his injury issues, he should be handed an opportunity to add to his three top-flight appearances.
He may well take it with both hands, as Potts has done, and leave Nuno with two homegrown stars that he can build his team around at the London Stadium.
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