There are some who still doubt Crysencio Summerville’s ability to take the next step in his development; from a good winger at West Ham United to a truly great Premier League forward.
Still, it is worth remembering that, just five months ago, the Dutchman was in the midst of a 14-month goalless drought stretching beyond 20 games in all competitions.
Julen Loeptegui was the West Ham United manager when Crysencio Summerville scored his first goal for the club. When his second arrived, in a 2-1 FA Cup victory over QPR in January, Graham Potter had been and gone, replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo.
Two goals in 14 months across three different managers.
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But what a difference a bit of confidence makes. After scoring his first goal since October 2024, Summerville would then emulate Jesse Lingard while becoming the first Hammer since the former loanee to find the net in five successive matches.
Crysencio Summerville enjoyed an ‘incredible’ rise at West Ham
His West Ham journey has been one of great personal development, alongside substantial on-field progress. Speaking to the club’s official website, Summerville credits the birth of his daughter last December for instilling a sense of maturity he was previously accused of lacking.
Though Nuno also played a part. A pretty substantial one.
“I think the coach is a top manager and top person as well,” said Summerville before scoring seven goals in 31 games under Nuno compared to one in 25 under Potter and Lopetegui.
“When he first joined, I had a lot of conversations with him and he’s just straightforward. He asked me how he can get me on top of my game and get me even higher on the levels, how he can help me improve my game statistics as well.
“He gets something out of me.”
Nuno has his critics. He became the first Hammers boss since Avram Grant to take the club down, after all. But one thing the manager deserves immense credit for is putting Summerville in the right place to thrive; both literally, in terms of his position and tactical role on the pitch, but also mentally.
The Summerville who scored in both of the Netherlands’ World Cup matches, having not played a senior game for the Oranje before the summer, is very different to the one Bert Konterman remembers from his time in charge of the youth teams.
“‘Cry’ was a rascal,” former Netherlands U20 coach Konterman tells NOS. “In the good sense of the word. A Rotterdam hooligan. He pushed the boundaries every now and then.”
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Konterman, like Nuno a few years later, would take the time to get to know Summerville while ensuring his efforts would not go unnoticed.
“Then he was on clean-up duty [after training], and we noticed that he was directing others more than putting balls in the bag himself,” Konterman remembers. “When he saw that we caught on, his eyes started to sparkle.
“We had a great connection. He has stayed in my heart. I have always believed in him. It is incredible how he has risen again. A huge compliment.”
Nuno Espirito Santo took Summerville under his wing at West Ham
A compliment to Summerville, obviously, but also to West Ham and Nuno.
To the club for giving Summerville the support he needed when a disappointing debut season was ruined by a devastating hamstring injury, and Nuno for taking him under his wing and turning him into the £50 million-rated World Cup whizzkid he is today.
“I think he can be really important,” Nuno said just weeks after replacing Potter in East London.
“As time goes by, [he needs] to elevate his fitness because, to produce all the actions, he has to be at his top level. With the position that he occupies, he has to make a difference with his speed, with his talent.
“And I believe that he can give us big, big help in the future.”
Nine months, seven goals and a couple of devastating World Cup outings later, Nuno’s prediction in early-autumn could hardly have aged better.
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