West Ham United’s head coach Graham Potter addressed the media in his latest press conference, gearing up for the upcoming encounter against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Hammers have managed to secure just one point from their previous two Premier League outings, but following a much-needed break, they’re set to face Wolves at Molineux. Potter began by discussing forward Niclas Fullkrug, who has been sidelined since January and could make his return this week.
“Fullkrug has been training alongside the squad. He is likely to be included in the squad; we just need to build up his match fitness and what he can handle.”
“He hasn’t participated in competitive football for quite some time and has endured a considerable injury. However, he’s training well and increasing his fitness levels, so he’ll be in the squad.”
Potter then shared some updates on the team, confirming that one forward will miss the match.
“We have a few bumps and bruises along with some fatigue from the international fixtures, but we have another training session ahead. Everyone is in a good place, so we have a relatively full squad, apart from Crysencio Summerville.”
Evan Ferguson netted his first goal since November during the Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 victory over Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League. Potter expressed pride in the young striker and dismissed claims that his loan stint from Brighton has been unsuccessful.
“He’s been doing a lot of things well. It was always about having a bit of patience with him, but going away, getting minutes, and scoring is fantastic for a forward.”
“From our perspective, that assessment is unfair. It’s vital to grasp the context of where he was and the minutes he had previously played. We brought him on board at the early stages of his return to playing.”
“Thinking he could just step into a Premier League team and immediately hit the ground running is challenging. We’re pleased with him; he’s enjoying his time here and is ready to contribute.”
Next, he commented on Jarrod Bowen, who represented England during the international break against Albania and Latvia.
“I’m thrilled for Jarrod Bowen, earning two more England caps.”
“It’s always beneficial for our players to don their national colours, and Jarrod is no exception. Experiences like these help, along with exposure to different environments. He’s returned in a good state, and we’re looking forward to seeing him perform over the next couple of months as we aim to finish the season strongly.”
Lastly, he addressed Mohammed Kudus, suggesting that the player’s performance this season has been somewhat underwhelming, despite his efforts.
“I think Mo has likely experienced a season that he may find a bit disappointing—not due to his lack of effort, but sometimes these things occur.”
“Personally speaking, he’s been fantastic with us in how he’s applied himself daily. He’s improved his fitness and conditioning to a level where he can maintain his contributions much better now.”
“Football can be unpredictable. Occasionally, things don’t quite go your way in front of goal, or your final pass doesn’t quite make it. It doesn’t take much to flip that around.”
“For instance, in our win against Arsenal, although he didn’t score or assist, he was exceptional in that match and made a massive contribution. So while the statistics tell one story, there are various other aspects of his performance that have been very impressive.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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