After Graham Potter talked up the impact of Crysencio Summerville, the winger will make their first West Ham United start of 2025/26 during the Premier League derby with Tottenham Hotspur.
As Mohammed Kudus returns to face a ‘hostile’ reception from the supporters who used to worship him, another winger is hoping to step permanently out of the Ghanaian’s shadow.
Now, Crysencio Summerville will get the chance to do just that as West Ham United welcome bitter rivals Spurs to the London Stadium.
Graham Potter is delighted to have Summerville back after his eight-month injury nightmare. The former Leeds talisman gives the Hammers a new ‘dimension’, he says. And the electrifying cameo Summerville produced off the bench at Nottingham Forest last time out certainly suggests that Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro – hardly the most reliable of defenders – may have his work cut out.
With Niclas Fullkrug only fit enough for the bench, meanwhile, Jarrod Bowen is expected to start up top with Callum Wilson also among the substitutes. Mateus Fernandes makes his first home start, as Kyle Walker-Peters and Konstantinos Mavropanos keep their places ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo.
Potter was full of praise for Wilson too in his pre-match presser, following the striker’s goal off the bench at Forest.
“He’s been great, as we expected,” Potter said of Wilson. “A fantastic professional, a great person to have around the club and training ground.
“We are still building him up. He hasn’t had a pre-season but his impact against Forest was fantastic. We are delighted with Callum, where he is at but also where he’s been, and how we can carry on helping him to have his minutes, make his impact, and contribute to the team.
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“He has not been with us that long. It’s always in the back of your mind, we have to do the right thing for him and the team.
“But he’s the type of professional where, whether he starts or finishes [a game], he can have a great impact with us.”
“It’s great to have him. [Summerville] gives us another dimension,” Potter added when turning attention to his number seven. “It’s been a long road with setbacks, so credit to him. He’s shown that mental strength.
“Now, we just need to help him enjoy his football because, if we do that, he is a big help for us.”
Tottenham are without £60m striker Dominic Solanke, meanwhile.
Thomas Frank confirmed during his own press conference that the record signing had ‘fallen short’ in his attempts to return in time for the trip to East London. Richarlison will lead the line instead, then, the Brazilian looking to build on his impressive start to the new campaign.
Late-window additions Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani also make the trip. Xavi starts while Kolo Muani begins life on the bench.