Mateus Fernandes gives his Freddie Potts verdict as he hails four ‘top players’ at West Ham

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Nuno Espirito Santo appears to have finally unlocked the potential of West Ham United’s previously lumbering midfield, with Freddie Potts, Mateus Fernandes and Lucas Paqueta clicking into gear.

And better late than never.

It may have taken longer than the Hammers faithful would have liked – that flawed Andy Irving – Tomas Soucek experiment was only ever likely blow up in Nuno Espirito Santo’s face – but that Leeds defeat in late-October is starting to look more and more like a turning point in a hitherto-disastrous campaign.

Yes, that 2-1 defeat in South Yorkshire consigned the Hammers to their worst start in 52 years. Yes, Nuno appeared a broken man on the Elland Road touchline.

But, looking back now, the impressive cameos produced by Freddie Potts and Mateus Fernandes off the bench on that drizzly Friday night may be the moment when West Ham’s season changed for the better.

Potts and Fernandes were rewarded with a place in the starting XI the following weekend against Newcastle. Places they would keep for the visit of Burnley six days later.

While Mateus Fernandes was ‘sensational’ against Scott Parker’s side – probing, purposeful and relentlessly positive – it was arguably the discipline and beyond-his-years maturity displayed by Potts which provided the platform upon which the Portugal Under-21 captain sparkled.

Mateus Fernandes loves his Freddie Potts partnership at West Ham United

Nuno called Fernandes a ‘special’ talent a month ago. Albeit a talent whose most effective role the head coach had not yet worked out. Now, he might just have found it. A dynamic, ball-carrying number eight alongside a number six happy and willing to hold the fort in behind, a la Potts.

“I spoke with the manager. He told me some things I needed to learn and work on,” Fernandes said after West Ham drew level on ten points with rivals Burnley. “I will continue to work.

“I am playing with top, top players. It’s so easy to play with Paqueta, Potts, Guido [Rodriguez], Irving… We have a lot of quality.

“Sometimes, we need to defend and stick together. When we have the ball, we need to score. It is so simple.”

Nuno Espirito Santo goes back to basics against Newcastle and Burnley

Well, it is when you put it like that.

Though ‘simple’ is something West Ham fans and pundits alike have been asking for. Former striker Tony Cottee implored Nuno to go back to basics after that Leeds loss, feeling that a striker-less system, two full-backs playing on the opposite side, and a midfield shorn of Potts, Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa was only serving to exacerbate the Hammers’ problems.

In the last two matches – successive home wins for the first time since October 2024 – Callum Wilson started up top, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf were in their natural roles, and Potts and Fernandes started together in the centre of the park.

Still though, Nuno was indebted to Tomas Soucek’s game-changing contributions off the bench. Despite fielding an XI propped up with young talent – Fernandes, Potts, Diouf and Crysencio Summerville are all under 24 – Callum Wilson and Soucek rolled back the years to seal another comeback victory at the London Stadium.

Fernandes pays Tomas Soucek tribute after successive Premier League wins

Mateus Fernandes labelled Soucek West Ham’s ‘MVP’. For all of his dexterity and dynamism, Burnley might have walked away with a point or more if not for the poacher’s instincts of a certain 30-year-old beanpole.

“What a game. We deserved [to win], I think,” Fernandes added. “Tomas comes from the bench and he made the difference. For me, he was the MVP of the match. A top guy, top professional.

“We go for more, we want more victories. We want to continue [like this].”