West Ham spent many of the January switch window chasing a centre-forward for Graham Potter, trying to substitute Michail Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug who’re out injured.
Ultimately, within the last days of the window, a mortgage deal for Brighton’s Evan Ferguson materialised, reuniting the 20-year-old striker with Potter, who labored with him at Brighton.
Nevertheless, with such deal with the striker place, the Hammers did not recruit a midfielder, as a substitute deciding to recall James Ward-Prowse from his Nottingham Forest mortgage to strengthen the midfield depth.
James Ward-Prowse’s return to West Ham
Ward-Prowse joined West Ham in 2023 from Southampton, after Declan Rice left the membership, becoming a member of for a charge of round £30m. In his first season, the midfielder made 37 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, scoring seven objectives and offering seven assists.
However, after David Moyes left the membership in the summertime, with Julen Lopetegui taking up, it turned clear the English midfielder wouldn’t have a lot of a job beneath the Spaniard, as a substitute deciding to ship him on mortgage to Nottingham Forest.
The 30-year-old has only made ten Premier League appearances so far this season, offering one help and totalling 559 minutes to this point. So, why carry him again?
|
James Ward-Prowse previous two seasons comparability |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90 minutes) |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
|
Targets + Assists |
0.42 |
0.16 |
|
xG |
0.15 |
0.02 |
|
xAG |
0.25 |
0.24 |
|
Progressive Carries |
0.62 |
0.43 |
|
Progressive Passes |
4.48 |
4.35 |
|
Pictures Complete |
1.16 |
0.48 |
|
Key Passes |
2.10 |
0.87 |
|
Shot-Creating Actions |
3.51 |
2.17 |
|
Tackles + Interceptions |
2.33 |
2.00 |
|
Stats taken from FBref |
||
While Potter might use sure qualities resembling set-piece capability from Ward-Prowse returning, there may be maybe a greater choice ready within the academy ranks, who ought to be given extra of an opportunity within the second half of this marketing campaign.
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West Ham’s very personal Carrick and Rice hybrid
West Ham’s 18-year-old midfielder, Lewis Orford, has been given a couple of probabilities from the bench because the arrival of Potter and will have been the proper answer had Ward-Prowse remained on the Metropolis Floor.
He is made two Premier League appearances beneath Potter already so is aware of the system. He is additionally significantly effectively considered with the the English midfielder having made his approach by means of the academy, taking part in each U18 and U21 soccer for the membership.
John Brewin, speaking to the Guardian, is one rave reviewer, talking extraordinarily extremely of Orford, evaluating the midfielder to the likes of Declan Rice and Michael Carrick when it comes to his total capability blended along with his tall and highly effective body.
“His top reminds of Rice and Carrick although he displays a better flip of tempo than both, with a variety of passing past his years that has made him the Hammers’ Beneath-18 playmaker. There’s something, too, of Lampard in his capability to reach late on the scene for scoring alternatives.” – Brewin on Orford.
West Ham clearly want assist on this space, after recalling Ward-Prowse, however giving Orford additional minutes would not harm in any respect.
It will put together him for the long run and maybe even show he’s prepared now to contribute at the next stage, fixing a good few points the Hammers midfield have had to this point this season.
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