Freddie Potts: West Ham midfielder realising lifelong dream after Hammers academy graduate breaks into first workforce

When Freddie Potts begins for West Ham within the Premier League, they do not lose.

Sure, the pattern measurement is small, their final three video games had been towards Newcastle, Burnley and Bournemouth, and plenty of components have contributed to West Ham’s flip in type, however Potts is actually considered one of them.

For Potts, a kind of components is extra “fight”, and he’s actually needed to battle to get himself within the first workforce. Loans to Wycombe and Portsmouth within the earlier two seasons have turned the academy product from greater than only a tidy footballer, however a participant able to hack it bodily on the high degree.

Since coming into the workforce towards Newcastle, no participant has made extra tackles for West Ham than Potts (9), and solely El Hadji Malick Diouf has received extra duels.

Potts resides the dream that hundreds of younger supporters share. A lifelong fan who joined the membership at simply six years previous and was ball-boy for the final recreation at Upton Park, taking part in for West Ham isn’t merely a profession alternative, it’s private.

Nuno Espirito Santo has been eager to decrease expectations round Potts in latest weeks. However his composure and assuredness on the pitch and in our interview meant I felt like I may need simply sat down with a future West Ham captain.

“It means everything to me as a fan of the club,” the 22-year-old mentioned.

“I joined when I was six, and it’s all I’ve ever dreamt about. Working my way up the age groups and following the footsteps of the players who came through the academy.”

He remembers the numerous childhood journeys to the previous Chadwell Heath coaching floor, lengthy earlier than its renovation, with fondness.

“Every time I drive past it now, I get flashbacks of all the good times,” he said. “It’s such a massive part of my journey. I’ll never forget that place.”

The affect of West Ham’s well-known academy, one which produced the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Declan Rice, and Mark Noble, is not possible to disregard.

“When you see the names on the walls, it makes you want to emulate what they’ve done.

“The dream was always to play in the Premier League for West Ham. Doing that now is special.”

Potts needs to emulate ‘Mr West Ham’ Noble

Noble, West Ham’s Premier League look file holder and Sporting Director, has been particularly influential for Potts.

He mentioned: “Everyone knows him as Mr West Ham. You can see why, because every time he played, he was someone who you can resemble, with love for the club, and every time he played, he did everything.

“That’s something I’m trying to emulate, because at the end of the day, that’s what I want to do. I want to give everything I can, and every time I step out on the pitch, whether it’s at London Stadium or away from the club, I want to do that.

“I feel like with him, there was a connection between him and the fans.”

Potts impressed underneath Graham Potter in pre-season, beginning every of the victories over Everton in Chicago, Bournemouth in Atlanta and Lille at London Stadium.

So it was a shock to many when he wasn’t chosen towards Sunderland within the first recreation of the season.

A number of gamers are comfortable to play it straight when requested about not taking part in. Not Potts.

“It was troublesome,” he admitted. “I thought I’d get more minutes. But when you’re not in the team, you refocus. You think, what do I need to do? I kept my head down and worked even harder.”

How loan spells helped Potts’ rise

West Ham have seemed like a unique workforce with Potts within the center.

He was one of the best midfielder on the pitch within the 3-1 win over Newcastle, no imply feat arising towards Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, and was awarded the participant of the match. Solely the tip of Tomas Soucek’s boot value him an ideal day that might’ve included a objective.

He’s a participant who appears to do the straightforward issues so effectively. First contact, transfer the ball ahead shortly, sense the hazard. The likes of Declan Rice, Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Michael Carrick have executed the identical within the claret shirt.

Apart from goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, Potts has made essentially the most ahead passes (42) and profitable lengthy passes (9) for his workforce of their final three matches.

“He played his position with real understanding,” Carrick mentioned that evening, including that Potts’ efficiency was “disciplined and mature”.

His two mortgage spells at Wycombe and Portsmouth turned defining chapters.

“If I didn’t take those loans, I wouldn’t be where I am,” he revealed. “They taught me so much. Making mistakes on a bigger stage, dealing with pressure, and learning from passionate fan bases.

“They turned me into the person and player I am now.”

He nonetheless follows each golf equipment carefully.

“They took me in so effectively. I owe them loads,” he said.

Football is woven into the Potts family fabric. His father, Steve Potts, a former West Ham player and now first-team coach, is a unique presence in his development, but Freddie insists the balance is handled correctly.

He said: “We disagreed a lot when he coached the U21s! But now we keep a bit of distance. He knows I’ve got my career, and he lets me get on with it.”

Steve and brother Dan, now at Charlton but who also came through the West Ham academy, remain invaluable sources of advice, but Potts is adamant that nothing is handed to him.

“There’s no special treatment. I’ve had to earn everything like everyone else,” he mentioned.

‘Wilson has been sensible with me’

Potts speaks glowingly of senior figures within the dressing room, particularly Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson, who has turn into a key mentor.

“Callum’s been brilliant with me,” he revealed. “Speaking to me off the pitch about staying consistent and improving. He’s a great guy and a great leader.”

He believes Wilson is true to not rule himself out of a spot in England’s World Cup squad.

“That’s not even a question,” Potts said. “His movement, his finishing, the goals he scores-he should be in the squad.”

West Ham’s season has been eventful. A managerial change, fan protests, and a latest revival, however Potts sees progress and unity.

He mentioned: “We’re more together now. There’s a connection between staff, players, and fans.

“The results are coming, and we’re going into every game with confidence that we can take three points.”

For him personally, the objective is evident.

“I’ve got the shirt now,” he says, “and I want to keep it. It’s what I’ve worked for my whole life.”