Young midfield star Freddie Potts could make only his third West Ham appearance against AEK Larnaca after being pictured in training for the clash.
West Ham already have one foot in the quarter-finals if the Europa Conference League following last week’s 2-0 first leg win in Cyprus.
The Hammers were fortunate to land one of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition.
And they all but secured progress to the last eight of European competition thanks to a Michail Antonio brace in the first leg.
West Ham have a long and proud history of producing players through their famed academy.
And David Moyes has been known to use dead rubber European games to give young West Ham youngsters a taste of first team action.
The second leg against Larnaca cannot be considered a “dead rubber” given anything can happen in knockout football.
But it would take a monumental shock for West Ham to throw it away given their 2-0 advantage.
So it could be some of the club’s academy starlets will be involved in the squad for the game.
Young midfield star Potts could make only his third West Ham appearance against AEK Larnaca after being pictured in training for the clash.
West Ham posted a gallery of images from training ahead of the second leg at the London Stadium.
And the main image as well as picture number 10 show Potts involved with the first team as they prepare for the game.
Potts has made two appearances for West Ham’s first team – both in Europe.
The midfielder, son of West Ham legend Steve Potts and brother to former Hammer Dan, played in last season’s Europa League clash with Dinamo Zagreb.
And he also came on as a substitute in the 3-0 away win against FCSB in the group stages.
Potts and West Ham’s two young goalkeepers are the only academy players featured in the first team training pictures ahead of the Larnaca clash.
It suggests Potts, 19, will almost certainly be in the squad. Whether he gets his third West Ham appearance may depend on how the game pans out.
If the Hammers can open up a significant gap on the visitors then expect Moyes to bring him into the action.
Particularly given Flynn Downes, who has been starting West Ham’s European matches in central midfield, is suspended for the match.
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