As West Ham United prepare to kick off their Premier League campaign away to Sunderland, just how close is Graham Potter to welcoming Crysencio Summerville and George Earthy back into the fold?
Just when he was starting to hit his stride in a claret and blue jersey, Crysencio Summerville saw his debut season brought to a premature conclusion back in January.
A serious hamstring injury means the £30 million winger has not been seen, either in a competitive or friendly fixture, over the last seven months. And while he did return to training in July, a source told Hammers News that Summerville’s West Ham comeback may be delayed until September.
As for George Earthy, ankle ligament damage saw the England Under-21 international left out of that USA tour.
Graham Potter had big plans for Earthy over the summer, particularly after he picked up Bristol City’s Young Player of the Year award during a fine loan spell in the Championship.
Now, speaking to the media in his Thursday press conference, Potter confirmed that the West Ham United faithful will need to be patient as they await the respective returns of both Summerville and Earthy.
Graham Potter shares Crysencio Summerville update at West Ham United
Summerville and Earthy aside, though, West Ham head to Wearside with a clean bill of health.
“Very excited! It’s been a positive pre-season for us and, as much as you can talk about positive pre-seasons, you can’t beat the first day, the first game,” Potter begins. “Super excited. A great game for us in what I’m sure is going to be a fantastic atmosphere.
“A big test but we’re ready and we are looking forward to it.
“We’ve still got Cry Summerville in the last stages of his rehab. He won’t be available but he’s getting really close, which is good for us.
“George Earthy had an injury which he sustained in pre-season. Apart from that, we are pretty much close to full availability.”
Former Hammers stalwart Anton Ferdinand is confident Summerville can be Mohammed Kudus’ successor when he is back to full fitness. The Feyenoord graduate broke the 20-goal barrier in his final season at Elland Road, claiming the Championship’s Player of the Year award just over a year ago.
Upton Park icon Tony Cottee feels West Ham must drop any interest in Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, as a man seven years his junior looks to make up for lost time.
Potter hails Mads Hermansen ahead of Sunderland clash
It remains to be seen which of West Ham’s four summer signings make their debuts away to Sunderland, meanwhile.
Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson feel like experienced back-ups, though El Hadji Malick Diouf and Mads Hermansen have been brought in to strengthen Potter’s starting XI.
Hermansen trained with his West Ham teammates for the first time on Wednesday following that £18 million arrival from Leicester City. He takes the number one shirt vacated by Lukasz Fabianski earlier in the window.
“Well, I’m not going to name my team now, obviously!” Potter quipped when asked about the possibility of Hermansen starting ahead of Alphonse Areola at the Stadium of Light.
“But we are delighted with the signing.
“He provides real competition in that position. We obviously lost Lukasz and we felt we had to add some experience and competition there. So we will see how the weekend goes.”
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