If there is one big plus point West Ham United can take from a difficult season, it’s the success of those talented up-and-comers impressing on loan away from their Premier League employers.
Callum Marshall won Huddersfield Town’s Player of the Year award. Tigerish midfielder Patrick Kelly won the League Two title with Doncaster Rovers.
George Earthy picked up silverware of his own at Bristol City, meanwhile, after helping former West Ham United youth coach Liam Manning secure a long-awaited play-off spot.
Earthy will be part of Graham Potter’s pre-season plans at the London Stadium. At least, that is what the manager told the young midfielder when he visited West Ham’s training ground recently.
Whether Potter plans to give Freddie Potts the chance to make the step up as well, only time will tell. But on the back of an excellent spell at Portsmouth – the ovation he received during the final day draw with Hull City spoke volumes about the impact he has left on an adoring Pompey fanbase – Fratton Park boss John Mousinho feels the sky is the limit for the Barking-born 21-year-old.
Portsmouth manager expects West Ham success for Freddie Potts
Speaking to Portsmouth-based publication The News, Mousinho could hardly have been more glowing in his praise for a young midfielder who returns to West Ham having played a massive part in Pompey’s survival campaign.
“Freddie massively deserved the ovation [from the fans],” says Mousinho, who’s team finished a very commendable 16th in the Championship table. “It’s one where he’s been here all season and done such a good job.
“It’s most likely we won’t see him again next season, unfortunately, so it was a really good moment. I suspect he’s going to go back and challenge at West Ham so if we do [see him again] then great. If we do it’s a bonus.
“But [a place in West Ham’s plans] would be my expectation for Fred next year. If not, then we will certainly be knocking at the door and first in the queue.”
Potts signed new contract while impressing Mark Noble
A West Ham first-team role remains Freddie Potts’ ‘dream’. Having signed a new contract at the London Stadium only a few weeks ago – a reflection of how highly he is regarded behind the scenes – Potts has cemented an admirer in Hammers director Mark Noble.
Though whether Potts can live up to the ‘new Declan Rice’ moniker bestowed upon him by sections of the support, that is a question only the player himself can answer.
The second-coming of Rice or not, Mousinho has no doubt that the West Ham academy graduate will not look out of place on the Premier League stage.
“I’ve seen a lot of evidence, particularly in the past six weeks, that he’s ready to make that step,” Mousinho adds. “If he was our player, I’d be expecting a lot of bids for him from Premier League clubs for him in the summer.
“The fact West Ham have given him a new contract, they know what they are doing there and they’re smart operators. Whether they’re thinking it will be another year or not [before he is in the first-team], I don’t know.
“But we’d love to see him back at Portsmouth Football Club.”
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