(Credit: Imago)

Jacob Raw

Sat 28 March 2026 14:40, UK

Freddie Potts’ nightmare game against Aston Villa before the international break may be the last time he ever starts in a West Ham shirt under Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Rush Green youth product gave internal figures in E20 reason to believe that he could one day go on to captain the Hammers.

Nuno has been giving the midfielder chances since his own arrival, but after hooking him at halftime in the loss to Villa, that could spell the end for his opportunities.

It wasn’t long ago that the Englishman was sent off for a red card in the FA Cup that almost cost the Irons a win, and the way Nuno has been acting suggests that the start against Villa may have been his last one.

Potts may leave West Ham this summer, but that could depend on a multitude of possibilities.

This is why Freddie Potts may have started his last-ever West Ham game

Potts was compared to Declan Rice when he had his breakthrough for the Irons, but so far, he’s not living up to his potential.

Nuno’s arrival has given him a real chance to nail his spot in the first team, but the West Ham boss has been inconsistent in giving him starts, and possibly for good reason.

Following his early withdrawal against Villa, it would be surprising to see Nuno start Potts in another match this season, considering the Hammers are in a relegation fight.

The substitution suggested that he’d seen enough of the midfielder, and if West Ham do stay up, things will change this summer.

Potts may be loaned out or put up for sale, with the Hammers needing to make sales this summer, and he would be a great way for David Sullivan to make some pure profit.

The 22-year-old has an average Sofascore rating of 6.82 in the Premier League, which suggests another top-flight club may even be tempted to take a punt on him.

Who is Nuno’s back-up in case of Potts sale?

The Hammers have their obvious first-team starters in midfield with the likes of Mateus Fernandes, Tomas Soucek, and sometimes even Soungotou Magassa.

One of Magassa, Potts or Mohamadou Kante will surely leave this summer, regardless of what division the Hammers find themselves in.

However, with Potts being English, he may emerge as the best midfielder to sell from a financial standpoint.

• Kante has played 10 times this season
• He came off the bench against Aston Villa
• Kante averages a 84% pass accuracy and 61.5% duel win rate in the FA Cup

But as seen in the list above, Kante could be the man that Nuno uses going forward.

The Frenchman has impressed in FA Cup starts, and may be trusted in the final few games of the season instead of Potts.