James Ward-Prowse makes brutally honest admission about his West Ham future and he has a big problem

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James Ward-Prowse has broken his silence with a brutally honest admission about his West Ham future – and a Graham Potter pledge has given him a big problem.

One of the biggest improvements at West Ham since Graham Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui has been clarity and communication.

That is not necessarily all on Lopetegui – he is an intelligent man who can converse in several languages.

But English was his second tongue and he could not always get his point across to West Ham fans – so imagine how it was for the players at times.

Potter’s arrival instantly changed that for supporters and West Ham’s stars.

Several of them have made a point of praising the improved communication under the Englishman.

It has not necessarily seen results improve, though.

West Ham have slipped from 13th to 17th under their new manager, who has been in post for three months now.

There were green shoots in the second half display at Liverpool.

Overhaul needed to build on West Ham’s green shoots

But patience is wearing thin among the fanbase over Jekyll and Hyde performances.

And those date back long before Potter’s arrival – all the way to the last six months of David Moyes’ reign.

The manager appears to have lost some patience himself in the last week or so.

Fans were enthused when Graham Potter put all of West Ham’s players on notice after the defeat to Wolves.

It has since emerged the 49-year-old is planning a mass clearout.

After warning his squad they must shape up or will be shipped out, Graham Potter then dropped an exciting West Ham transfer window pledge.

So he clearly means it when he says big changes are coming.

There may have been a lack of jeopardy to West Ham’s season for too long now.

But that certainly gives some meaning to the final six games for the players.

Fans will see which have the ability and – more importantly – the desire to remain at the club. And so will Potter.

With that as background one player in particular has made it clear he understands full well the situation.

James Ward-Prowse has made a brutally honest admission about his West Ham future and he has a big problem.

Having been shipped out on loan to Nottingham Forest, Ward-Prowse looked finished at West Ham.

After all clubs don’t loan out 30-year-old players they want to keep.

Potter brought the set-piece specialist back and has been full of praise for Ward-Prowse.

Ward-Prowse’s honest admission about his West Ham future

Midfield has been a serious issue for the club, though.

And his return has done little to fix it.

Meaning he, like every other player bar four or five standout stars, is playing to stay at the club.

“As a team, these last few games are a chance to rectify what has been a disappointing season so far,” Ward-Prowse told West Ham’s website.

“And for me personally, every game is a chance to show what you can do, regardless of what you’re aiming for.”

Ward-Prowse has a major issue, though.

Ward-Prowse has a big problem after Potter’s West Ham pledge

Because all he is showing is that he may no longer have what is required to help West Ham compete at the top level in the Premier League.

Ward-Prowse was embarrassed in the defeat at Wolves.

Their young, dynamic and tenacious midfield ran right through a player who is not getting any quicker or more mobile with age.

He was hooked in that game with 20 minutes to play.

Against Bournemouth, Ward-Prowse was equally poor. He showed his set pieces can help at times by providing the cross form a corner which saw Niclas Fullkrug score.

But the Cherries exposed Ward-Prowse’s limited ability in open play too as they held the Hammers to a 2-2 draw.

At times against Liverpool, Ward-Prowse unfortunately looked like a Championship player. It really was men against boys stuff and tough to watch.

Many West Ham fans celebrated Ward-Prowse’s return like a new signing in January.

Midfielder is only proving he’s not up to being a starter

But all he has shown since is that he would be a useful squad player at best.

Certainly if West Ham have any plans to get back to competing for Europe.

Potter seems to appreciate Ward-Prowse, who is undoubtedly a consummate professional and likeable character in the dressing room.

He has said himself that he is playing for his future under the new manager.

But his one-dimensional play and lack of athleticism means he may be playing his way out of the club.

Ward-Prowse lacks the dynamism needed to be an effective Premier League central midfielder for a team fighting to qualify for Europe, which is what the Hammers – by Potter’s own admission – want to get back to.

Much will depend on whether he is happy to be a squad player at West Ham.

But if he remains a starter next season then it may be a clear sign of a lack of ambition or funds to go out and truly rectify the midfield problem.

Especially after Potter promised an exciting window of change.