Freddie Potts’ pre-season aim is clear - the midfielder wants to establish himself as a member of Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham United first-team squad.
The young playmaker impressed in Monday’s pre-season draw against Ferencváros. He was confident on the ball, showcased a good range of passing and caused problems with his delivery from set-pieces. However, Potts’ skills on the ball should not deflect from his work rate off it.
Having worked his way through the ranks of the Academy of Football, the 20-year-old, who is the son of two-time Hammer of the Year and current youth coach Steve, and brother to former Iron and current Luton Town left-back Dan, has been recognised as a player of genuine potential.
He enjoyed a terrific breakthrough season in 2023/24 on loan at EFL League One side Wycombe Wanderers, where he scooped the Players’ Player of the Season and Supporters’ Player of the Season awards to cap off a phenomenal spell with the Chairboys.
Now, after being away in Kitzbühel, Austria, on a week-long training camp with the first team, Potts is hoping to make his mark in Claret and Blue this campaign.
“I enjoyed it [the game against Ferencváros] a lot,” Potts said. “The new Head Coach has come in and implemented his new style of play, so there were a lot of things to learn from the match.
“We wanted the result to be a win, but I think in the end we all learned a lot, and it was a good first game to get our fitness back to where it needs to be.
“It’s a new experience and something different than what I’ve been used to. He [Lopetegui] has got a different style of play compared to coaches I’ve had before, so it’s a good experience to learn from. I think we have all enjoyed it, tried to adapt and to implement everything we’ve done out in Austria, and I think at times we did that. I’ve enjoyed every moment so far.
“I love just trying to get on the ball and that’s what I tried to do as much as possible, and hopefully we have a Head Coach who likes to let his midfielders get on the ball as much as possible and try and make things happen, as that sort of style suits all of us as midfielders."
Potts featured for 68 minutes at Sportstadion Langau on Monday, playing more minutes than any other West Ham player, and is excited about what’s to come under Spaniard Lopetegui and his coaching staff.
“The first game back from pre-season is always the toughest in terms of fitness and getting back to where we need to be for when the season starts, and it was a good start," Potts confirmed. "We all ran our socks off and did as much as we could out there, so there were really tough demands but we enjoyed it.
“It was a really good week in terms of being here as a group and doing things as a team. We’ve got a lot of young lads here including myself, and we have all just enjoyed being in and around the first team and trying to show the Head Coach what we can do. I think for me personally, it has been about trying impress the Head Coach as I want to be here this season and be a part of it, and this week has been a really good opportunity to show that.”
Potts' next opportunity to play alongside his new teammates will come at Dagenham & Redbridge this Saturday, when the Hammers take on their National League neighbours in a 3pm kick-off. Tickets are available for the Chigwell Construction Stadium fixture HERE.
This coming Sunday will see the squad fly to the United States for our two-match Sunshine State Tour to Florida. There, Potts and company will take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Jacksonville’s Everbank Stadium on Saturday 27 July and Crystal Palace at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Saturday 3 August, with both games kicking-off at 7pm local time. Click HERE to secure your seats for our Stateside Cup games now!
