Mohammed Kudus has vowed to give his all to help West Ham United improve their position over the second half of the Premier League season.
The Ghana international admitted the first half of his 2024/25 campaign had ‘ups and downs’, with the highs of important goals against Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion contrasting with the lows of a five-match suspension after being sent-off at Tottenham Hotspur and, chastening Premier League and domestic cup defeats and the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Injuries to his fellow forwards Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Niclas Füllkrug have seen the 24-year-old fill a variety of positions in recent weeks, as he has played on both wings, as a No10 and, in last weekend’s home fixture with Crystal Palace, as a centre-forward.
Typical of his maturity and focus, Kudus has embraced the challenges and, speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa, insisted he is willing to play any role for the Hammers if it means winning games and climbing the table.
Mo, how would you sum up your season so far?
“Ups and downs. I think definitely I want more. I set higher standards for myself. I'm not there yet, but we keep working because individually and as a team, we all know the reality of the situation we are in.
“Right now, the focus is not on whether I score or not, but finding ways to get the team the points, which is part of the game. Most importantly, I'm fit and healthy and available to play a part in helping the team every single game. That is important for me. Definitely, I want to get higher numbers [of goals and assists] and, most importantly, get more points for the team. We keep working on that.
“It can happen today, tomorrow, but I'm always ready and working every single week to get there.”
You have played in a number of positions, so how did you feel about filling the central striker role against Crystal Palace?
“It's part of my versatility. We have a lot of injuries, so definitely every position I find myself in, I try to replicate and do my best for the team. I try to do my best to get the team to win. Unfortunately, we didn't, but I keep learning and trying to improve myself in every position I find myself in. It's definitely a plus to be able to play in numerous positions as well.
“Obviously, playing as the target man through the middle, it's a bit crowded and stuff like that. On the flank, sometimes you have more space and stuff like that. It's a whole different feeling playing in the centre and then being out wide. My aim is how to be able to analyse both situations and how I can help the team in the best possible way.
“Like I said, it's a good learning curve for me also. We have a lot of injuries and we have to play our roles and do our jobs. It's part of my responsibility, so I'm just trying to do my best to help the team.”
You and your teammates have also had a hectic few weeks during which you have played a number of matches in the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup and also started working under a new Head Coach in Graham Potter?
“Definitely, it's going to work and it's going to help. It's been very hectic with the change of manager and another voice and another way of playing. We as players, of course, it's our way to adapt and then get used to the new system.
“On the pitch, definitely, it takes time because playing one way and then having to switch to another way definitely takes time. This week, we have the whole week to prepare for that, so definitely it's going to help with trying to implicate what the coach expects from everyone.
“He (Graham Potter) demands a lot as well. He wants to play, press, try and keep the ball and literally try and win every single game. I think the aim of the whole squad is still the same, but it’s just a different way of replicating what he wants on the pitch. We want to win games and get up on the table. The aim and the motivation and the passion is always the same.
“On the pitch, the tactical stuff just changes a little bit, but our mentality, our efforts, our energy are always the same, regardless of whoever is the manager. It's just, like I said, the way he understands the game changes a little bit, but that's another aspect of the game.”
Next up is an away Premier League game at Aston Villa on Sunday. How do you approach that challenge?
“[Sunday’s game will be] very tough. I believe, just like every other game in the league. It's very tough to get points in every game in the league, at the top or bottom of the league. The mentality and the focus is always the same, whichever team we play.
“Villa is a top team and we are very aware of that. We played them last two weeks ago recently in the cup and we know what to expect. Definitely, we will be ready for it since we have been preparing for the whole week for that.”
