Patience is a virtue, and Crysencio Summerville showed it in abundance while itching for a chance to show West Ham United supporters his quality in the Premier League earlier this term.
Arriving from Leeds United in the summer after an impressive campaign in England’s second tier, that saw him rack up 20 goals and nine assists, the 23-year-old found gametime hard to come by in the opening stages of this season.
Before the visit of Manchester United in late October, Summerville had only started one of the Hammers’ opening eight Premier League matches, but he made his mark off the bench against the Red Devils, showing his intelligence and awareness to slide Julen Lopetegui’s team ahead before Jarrod Bowen’s winner in second-half stoppage time.
After helping the Hammers clinch three points at London Stadium, the No7 has started every Premier League match since, and is relishing the opportunity to be a mainstay in Lopetegui’s side.
He will hope to be in the starting XI for a fifth successive match, at King Power Stadium tonight, as the Irons visit struggling Leicester City. But despite their position in the standings, hovering above the relegation zone, Summerville is aware the Foxes will be buoyed by the recent appointment of manager Ruud van Nistelrooy and is not taking their threat lightly.
“I played Leicester last season and they have a good team with good players,” said Summerville, as the Hammers look to record back-to-back away wins for the first time this season.
“It’s also hard for the coach [Van Nistelrooy] because he needs to get to know the players as he’s new there.
“But we have one job, whether it’s away or at home, and that’s to get the three points, and we’ll be going for that.”
While he is only a few months into his tenure in east London, Summerville feels right at home thanks to the welcoming reception of the players, staff and fans. He, in particular, has formed bonds with Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mohammed Kudus and Alphonse Areola, and is delighted to be back playing top-flight football.
“I’m very happy here and very happy with my choice of West Ham,” he said. “They’ve received me very well, the fans, the players and the staff. I was really committed to and trusted the project [at West Ham] and where they see me in a year. I trust in my own ability and quality, so I see myself playing here for years to show my quality.
“He [Lopetegui] said he could change my game and help me develop, he loved my game, my goals from the left side and what I could bring to the team. He said he could help me be more important with my goals and assists to take my game to the next step. I was really committed and I trusted in the plan.
“Every player wants to play, but you have to keep patient. I came into a new team where there’s already a starting XI, then it was just for me to come into the starting XI and show in training why I have to be there.”
He added: “As a young kid, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League. You play against the best players in the world on the big stage. For me, it’s the best competition in the world. It’s unpredictable, you have to be sharp, everyone can beat everyone so you have to be switched on and focused.
“We had a poor start [to the season] I would say, but if we believe and stay together, anything is possible.”
Tonight’s trip to Leicester marks the Hammers’ first game in December ahead of a busy Christmas schedule, but fresh from playing in many three-game weeks last term, Summerville is relishing the challenge.
“I really like it because I love to play games,” he said. “I used to play three games in a week. You have to have the right plan with what you want to do in each game, and recovery is very important.”
While the visit of Arsenal was a day to forget on Saturday, the Netherlands U21 international believes if the Irons can channel the same spirit and focus as they did at St James’ Park last week, then it will be a ‘great Christmas’ for those in Claret and Blue.
