Potts to Survive Summer Clearout

Dan meets VWH's top youth columnist

Hammers fans have been left on tenterhooks by the shock revelation that it is planned to retain the services of only three out of twelve players who are due contract reviews in the Summer. While that almost certainly means the end for the ageing Jussi Jaaskelainen, as well as loanees Roger Johnson, Marco Borriello and Antonio Nocerino, It also signals likely exits for Hammers favourites Joe Cole and Jack Collison. Now well into their 30s, both Georgie McCartney and Matt Taylor also face the chop, while for Jordan Spence time has finally run out.

Pablo Armero and Abdul Razak arrived in the January transfer window, but in both cases appear to have been brought in as longer-term prospects. And so, we are left with Elliot Lee and VERYWESTHAM favourite Dan Potts – two players who have been the most exciting talents to emerge from the academy over the recent past, with Potts even fitting in some first team experience. However, in both cases their lack of inherent physicality may not bode well for continued favour in the Allardyce regime.  

Current U18 team coach, Steve

Potts has suffered nasty concussive injuries over the past two seasons at Southend in a preseason friendly and then against Arsenal, but when interviewed in Cork last Summer Big Sam voiced his belief that the lad would make the step up to regular action with the first team as long as he is given enough time to develop physically. Undoubtedly, young Potts has the skill and pace to cut it, but remains slight in build – attributes that didn’t stop his dad, Steve, becoming a Club favourite and Hammer of the year in 1995.

Our money is on Armero, Razak and Potts all to stay, with the allegedly unsettled Lee to find first team opportunity elsewhere.