Hammers News

Graham Potter might not have enjoyed seeing West Ham United fall to pieces in yet another Premier League match, but a few standout individual displays at least provide some semblance of hope.

To think, before they suffered the quadruple whammy of Tomas Soucek’s red card and a trio of Spurs goals in the space of just 17 ruinous second-half minutes, there was a lot to be positive about at the London Stadium.

Lucas Paqueta had a glorious chance to give West Ham United the lead after some typically purposeful stuff from Mateus Fernandes.

El Hadji Malick Diouf whipped in one of his trademark crosses, while Kyle Walker-Peters justified his continued involvement over Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the other flank.

And though all that good work would be undone – Mads Hermansen conceded from another set-piece as Pape Sarr gave Spurs the lead moments after the interval and Tomas Soucek’s red card killed the match as a contest – Graham Potter feels that there were at least a few performances worth building upon.

Graham Potter praises five West Ham United players despite Tottenham Hotspur defeat

The front four of Paqueta, Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen and particularly Crysencio Summerville carried plenty of promise and a fair amount of threat, capably supported by West Ham’s two new full-backs.

Soungoutou Magassa’s eye-catching cameo also came at a pretty good time, given that Soucek will be unavailable for upcoming clashes with Crystal Palace, Everton and Arsenal.

“I thought [the forwards] were supported well with Kyle Walker-Peters on the right, and supported well with Malick Diouf on the left,” Potter tells the club’s official website.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“Mateus was good, coming back from international duty was not easy for him. It was Cry’s first start and there’s positives there that Malik was really good, that Soungou did well in difficult circumstances when he came on.

“Kyle, I thought played well, so there were individuals that were there. But it’s difficult to say that because the scoreline is what it is and we’re all hurting from that.”

Potter feels West Ham can build on first-half display despite 3-0 loss

For Potter, the biggest frustration is that Tottenham barely created an opening of note before Sarr found himself with the freedom of East London at the back post.

And while he was still one of the better performers on the day, former Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola was less than impressed with Walker-Peters’ positioning as Lucas Bergvall deepened the gloom moments after Soucek’s red card.

“I don’t think Tottenham’s chances against us created too much at all,” Potter argues. They had pressure and set-pieces which is what we had to deal with and again I thought we dealt with them well until the start of the second-half when we made a mistake,”

“And that’s again the level, the detail, the margins and then we went 1-0 behind and quickly went down to ten men. The game changed at that point and then it’s an uncomfortable second half for us, there’s no doubt.

“We want to give our supporters more but, when the scoreline was what it was, it was a difficult evening for the boys.

“We’ve played two games at home against the World Club champions [Chelsea] and another team that’s also in the Champions League, so there’s quality against us. Nevertheless, we’re disappointed because we wanted to do better, we wanted to have more points.

“For the first half, I thought it was a decent performance. There were lots of positives in the first half and that’s the painful thing because the scoreline in the end is completely unpleasant for us.

“But at the same time there were glimpses of positivity, I thought, especially in the first half. Like I said, the second half, the game goes away from us so quickly and that’s the level and we have to learn from that. Like I said, the first half is what we have to focus on and remain positive.”

Unlike those heavy defeats against Sunderland and Chelsea, Mads Hermansen could not really be blamed directly for any of the three goals West Ham United conceded to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Hermansen marked his Hammers debut with a ‘big mistake’ on the opening weekend.

Despite pulling off one superb earlier stop which meant Hermansen earned a Save of the Month nomination, Sunderland’s stoppage time clincher came when Wilson Isidor’s speculative shot from distance skipped over his outstretched arm and into the back of the West Ham United net.

One week later, while Rob Green did his best to defend the £18 million summer signing from Leicester City, there was no place for Mads Hermansen to hide as he fumbled the ball at the feet of a grateful Moises Caicedo.

Now, on the face of it, there wasn’t much the Dane could do to prevent Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven scoring three unanswered goals in just 17 second half minutes at the London Stadium.

But former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson saw little in Saturday’s derby to suggest that Hermansen could be the solution to West Ham’s set-piece problems.

Paul Robinson shares Mads Hermansen fears as Tottenham cruise past West Ham United

Robinson watched Hermansen closely at Leicester when the Foxes were relegated last season. He has serious reservations about the 25-year-old’s ability to command his penalty area, with Sarr the latest to score from a cross into the Hammers box.

“Graham Potter has got problems,” Robinson, who earned 41 England caps between 2003 and 2007, tells BBC Sport. “I was surprised when they signed Mads Hermansen.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“He was susceptible last season and, watching him today, he has not left his line once. You need help from the goalkeeper and that has not come from Hermansen.”

Remarkably, West Ham have now conceded six goals from corner kicks already this term. Hermansen has been beaten eleven times, meanwhile, in just four matches.

Hammers News can confirm that some at West Ham felt even before a ball was kicked against Tottenham that Lukasz Fabianski could be back in the starting XI sooner rather than later. Another helpless Hermansen performance will only add ammunition to the argument that the Hammers would be more secure with a returning 40-year-old between the sticks.

Former England keeper says Tomas Soucek red card was the turning point

On a day when Tottenham appeared to target Hermansen from set-piece situations, a red card for Tomas Soucek gave Spurs an advantage they would ram home in emphatic fashion.

“The immediate second goal after the sending off finished West Ham off,” Robinson adds. “They started well in the first 20 minutes, they pressed as a team. Their performance against Forest, not many people saw that coming.

“In the first 15 minutes you could see cohesion and understanding, but Tottenham grew into the game.

“We all love excuses. With 10 men, it is always difficult. The sending off was a pivotal part of the game. That is what finished the game off. Potter will look towards that, but it was the clearest of red cards.”

West Ham will now be without Soucek for the upcoming matches against Crystal Palace, Everton and Arsenal.

Who starts in goal for those fixtures, meanwhile, could make for very interesting viewing.

Graham Potter will once again come under renewed pressure at West Ham after a 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur and one of his big signings isn’t helping.

It was a tale of two halves of the first half for West Ham as Spurs came to the London Stadium.

The Hammers went into the international break on a high after a shock 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham came to east London off the back of a home defeat to Bournemouth.

And it showed in the opening exchanges as West Ham started the brighter against Thomas Frank’s expensively assembled Tottenham.

But Spurs slowly got a foothold in the game and when Lucas Paqueta spurned a golden chance to put the Hammers in front, it was a bombardment.

West Ham somehow made it in at half-time 0-0 by surviving an aerial assault from Spurs at corners.

Potter signing could end up costing him the West Ham job

Frank’s side racked up corner after corner at the London Stadium.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

In fact they had so many that West Ham fans got bored of booing returning villain Mohammed Kudus as he came to take them.

Tottenham perhaps should have had a goal when Cuti Romero headed home from one, but VAR stuck with the referee’s on-field decision of a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters.

It was incredibly fortunate, even if Mateus Fernandes looked to have been hit in the mouth just beforehand.

It mattered little, though, because the set-piece pressure would eventually tell on meek West Ham.

And one Graham Potter signing could end up costing him his job.

As encouraging as the victory at Forest may have been, this was a reality check for the Hammers.

Blame for a dreadful start to the new season first and foremost must sit with the club’s owners.

On the evidence so far, Potter’s squad is nowhere near good enough to be competitive in the Premier League over the course of a 38-game season.

The failure to sign a young, powerful forward is downright negligence.

But West Ham’s biggest problem is at the back – and particularly Potter’s goalkeeper signing Mads Hermansen.

It says everything about Hermansen’s shortcomings – pun intended – that his fellow Dane Thomas Frank based Tottenham’s entire gameplan around specifically targeting the £15.5m signing from every set piece.

Tottenham were actually actively playing for corners at one stage to get another crack at Hermansen.

Another Hammers horror for targeted Hermansen

Potter has made Hermansen his number one but he is so vulnerable on crosses and corners it is frightening.

Spurs eventually got their goal – from a corner – and it owed as much to Hermansen’s lack of command for his box as it did horrendous West Ham marking.

The Hammers already have centre-backs who don’t want to and can’t head the ball in Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo.

The one who can, Konstantinos Mavropanos, is ridiculously error-prone. So Potter is stuck between a rock and a hard place over who to pick.

Mavropanos was up to his old tricks, being done by a long ball over the top from the first action after Tomas Soucek was sent off.

Lucas Bergvall had all the time in the world to loop a header over Hermansen, who got caught in no man’s land.

The goalkeeper’s lack of reach not helping the situation.

The third from Micky van den Ven was just a case of West Ham throwing in the towel. Unforgivable against rivals like Spurs.

Tottenham could have gone for the jugular but Frank elected to make sweeping changes.

It is now just six wins for Potter in 24 games as West Ham manager.

Only two of those have come at the London Stadium.

Owners to blame for West Ham squad shortcomings but Potter must change

The Hammers have conceded more goals than any other side in the top flight and Potter’s new goalkeeper has unfortunately been at fault for far too many of them.

There were some positives for West Ham in patches but the fact the London Stadium was almost completely empty bar the away end for the last 20 minutes speaks volumes.

Potter is not the root cause of West Ham’s problems but he has to prove he has some solutions soon.

If he wants to save himself then he may have to hold his hands up on Hermansen, who has looked a decent shot-stopper but sorely lacking in the stature needed.

West Ham look like they will concede from every corner and set-piece into their box.

They will be relegated if something is not done about it.

That may have to start with a change of goalkeeper.

West Ham player ratings:

Mads Hermansen, 4/10: Enough said above.

Kyle Walker-Peters, 4/10: Started well but faded and Aaron Wan-Bissaka was missed.

Konstantinos Mavropanos, 4/10: Looked good against Forest but made his obligatory error leading to a goal.

Max Kilman, 4/10: Not the kind of defender you want and need in a relegation battle.

El Hadji Malick Diouf, 7/10: Probably West Ham’s best player overall. Kept Kudus quiet for the most part and showed passion and endeavour.

Tomas Soucek, 3/10: Never lacking in effort but the game passed him by and he should have been subbed off long before his red card.

James Ward-Prowse, 4/10: Potter’s obsession with Ward-Prowse is another matter that could cost him his job. Offered little yet again.

Mateus Fernandes, 5/10: Started brightly but will be having PTSD after suffering relegation with Southampton. Will be the key if West Ham are to survive.

Lucas Paqueta, 4/10: Did little and spurned the best chance of the game when he should have laid it off to Crysencio Summerville.

Crysencio Summerville, 7/10: Excellent, West Ham’s joint best player along with Diouf. Keeping him fit will be key to any hopes of survival.

Jarrod Bowen, 6/10: Not the captain’s best day. Always gives his all of course and looked the most likely for West Ham but the team just did not get the ball to him enough.

Tomas Soucek’s red card may have come moments after Pape Sarr gave Tottenham Hotspur the lead away at West Ham United but, as Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith put it, his early exit gave Graham Potter ‘a mountain to climb’.

In the end, as the excellent Lucas Bergvall doubled Spurs’ advantage almost immediately and Micky van de Ven swept in a third, Potter barely got out of base camp, let alone ascending the cliff face with sights on the summit.

The West Ham United boss opted to keep the faith with the team which stunned Nottingham Forest before the international break.

Crysencio Summerville was the only alteration, replacing pre-match injury doubt Niclas Fullkrug and rewarded for his fabulous cameo at the City Ground.

But after frustrating Thomas Frank’s visitors in a tight first half – Max Kilman was confident West Ham could keep Mohammed Kudus quiet and they did, for the most part – three Tottenham goals and a Tomas Soucek red card in the space of just 17 minutes ended a previously competitive match as a contest.

Alan Smith defends Tomas Soucek after West Ham United red card in Tottenham Hotspur loss

There was clearly not even a hint of intent.

Soucek merely stretched desperately for a loose ball and was beaten to it by Joao Palhinha. And as soon as referee Jarred Gillett spotted Palhinha’s torn shin pad, there was only one direction West Ham’s Czech giant was heading.

Though Smith, in his usual co-commentary role for Sky Sports, could not help but feel a pang of sympathy for a footballer without a vicious bone in his body.

This was Soucek’s first red card in half a decade, after all, and only his second ever.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“It’s just that competitive nature,” the former Arsenal striker explained.

“You want to get to the ball before your opponent and, when you don’t, when you catch your opponent, there is only one end to this.”

Just days after confirming that West Ham decided against accepting Everton’s offer during the final stretch of the summer window – The Toffees reportedly made a bid worth an initial £15 million for the David Moyes favourite – Graham Potter will have to do without Soucek for the next three matches.

Former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson says Soucek can have ‘no complaints’

With London derbies against Crystal Palace and Arsenal sandwiching a trip to the aforementioned Everton, life seems unlikely to get much easier for Potter.

“This is a horrible place to be as a team, 3-0 down and down to 10-men,” Paul Robinson, the one-time Tottenham goalkeeper, told BBC Sport. “You just want to get off the pitch. I have been in this position a number of times and it is very difficult.

“[Soucek can have] no complaints. Oh dear, it is a bad challenge. The ball has got away from Tomas Soucek, Joao Palhinha is quicker than Soucek.

“Soucek had no intent in the challenge, it was just frustration.”

For the second time in two home matches, Robinson saw the Hammers fans head for the exit in their droves long before the final whistle.

“You normally see people leave early to avoid the traffic, but it might be worth staying after the final whistle for five minutes as the traffic will have gone by the time we get out!” the former England international quips.

“Most people have gone – it is incredible!”

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.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“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.

While Declan Rice left West Ham United as an established, proven, elite-level performer, the same could not really be said about Mohammed Kudus when he completed his controversial switch to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Declan Rice captained the Hammers to Europa Conference League glory back in 2023. His first and so-far only trophy in the professional game.

And while those barnstorming displays on the Champions League stage have introduced his talents to a far wider audience, West Ham United supporters will tell you that the £105 million man had been performing at a world-class level long before he became Arsenal’s record signing.

Rice has been ‘one of the best in the world’ for quite a while now, to quote former Hammers youngster Luizao.

Mohammed Kudus, though, joined Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur having flattered to deceive more often than not in his second and final season at the London Stadium.

Now, it may be a stretch to suggest that Daniel Levy splashed out £54.5 million on nothing more than raw potential. Kudus had his fair share of standout moments in a claret and blue jersey, though they became increasingly few and far between as time went on.

And, speaking ahead of Spurs’ trip to West Ham on Saturday evening, Frank admits that Kudus needs to improve his end product if he is to justify that price-tag.

Thomas Frank on where Mohammed Kudus must improve after leaving West Ham United for Tottenham

Kudus scored only five goals in 35 matches during the 2024/25 campaign.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

The Ghana international is also yet to open his account in a Tottenham shirt, although he did provide two assists during the 3-0 victory over Burnley on the Premier League’s opening weekend.

And Frank knows that, if Spurs are to fight towards the top end of the division once again, he will need a lot more productivity from a frontline which once boasted Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane in their pomp.

“Of course, I followed him from a distance. [Kudus] impressed me the first season at West Ham and a little less last season,” the former Brentford boss admits.

“Looking from distance, they maybe didn’t have their best season for various reasons. I don’t want to go into detail, it’s very difficult to judge from the outside, [but] that maybe doesn’t help. From a player perspective, I can only really speak about the players I am coaching right now.

“I think he’s been quite consistent, so hopefully he can keep that going forward. That is definitely [our aim].

“Definitely, all the front three or four players need to provide goals and score goals. Wingers and strikers need to have quite a significant number of goals, or as many as possible. So of course that is a target for Mo as well.

“I know he’s very eager to get better numbers on the board.”

Max Kilman thinks West Ham can keep Kudus quiet on London Stadium return

While West Ham defender Max Kilman is backing Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters to keep Kudus and co quiet, Frank accepts that Kudus may face a ‘hostile’ reception after walking down a path that had been untouched since Scott Parker left Upton Park for White Hart Lane in 2011.

You know it’s been a while when both clubs have changed stadium since the last time a player swapped West Ham for Spurs.

“On his day, [Kudus] is a brilliant player,” Kilman tells the official West Ham website. “So we know it’s going to be a tough, tough challenge, but we have to be ready. He’s a rival now, and he’s an opponent, and we want to stop him.

“We’ve got some new full-backs as well who are obviously going to be up against him in Malick and Kyle, and we will make sure to tell them a few little tips about his strengths.

“We’ve had a few new boys come into a new league for the first time, and I think he and the others have adjusted pretty well.

“They deserve credit as well, because coming into a new league is not easy, but they’ve managed themselves really well, and they’re really helping us a lot.”

The importance of Mohammed Kudus’ return to the London Stadium wearing the white of Tottenham Hotspur is not lost on West Ham United centre-back Max Kilman.

Thomas Frank is expecting a ‘hostile’ reception for his £54.5 million summer signing; Kudus becoming the first player since Scott Parker in 2011 to leave West Ham United for their rivals to the north.

And though Graham Potter refused to be drawn on the Ghanaian’s return to his old stomping ground – the Hammers boss instead focusing on the present rather than harking back to past favourites – the prospect of Mohammed Kudus firing Spurs to victory at the London Stadium is something that would leave each and every home supporter with a nasty case of nausea.

Max Kilman, though, believes that West Ham have the defensive strength to keep Kudus on the periphery.

The former Wolves captain watched Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf brilliantly shut down Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dan Ndoye during the 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest before the international break.

And Kilman is confident that history can repeat itself when West Ham’s full-backs go up against another of the Premier League’s finest frontlines.

Max Kilman tips West Ham United duo Kyle Walker-Peters and Malick Diouf to outshine Mohammed Kudus

Tottenham’s new number 20 is expected to start on the right-hand side, though Frank could be heard instructing Kudus to ‘go create [and] do whatever you want’ on the training pitch this week.

The implication being that the two-time Eredivisie champion is likely to be given the freedom he needs to drift across the pitch, alternating with the likes of Richarlison and Brennan Johnson.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Kilman, though, is confident in the defensive talents of left-back Diouf – who Kudus is expected to go head-to-head with – and Walker-Peters on the other flank.

Furthermore, his comments suggest that the summer signing from Southampton will start again on the right, ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

“On his day, [Kudus] is a brilliant player,” Kilman tells the official West Ham website. “So we know it’s going to be a tough, tough challenge, but we have to be ready. He’s a rival now, and he’s an opponent, and we want to stop him.

“We’ve got some new full-backs as well who are obviously going to be up against him in Malick and Kyle, and we will make sure to tell them a few little tips about his strengths.

“We’ve had a few new boys come into a new league for the first time, and I think he and the others have adjusted pretty well.

“They deserve credit as well, because coming into a new league is not easy, but they’ve managed themselves really well, and they’re really helping us a lot.”

Kilman acknowledges Tottenham’s improvement under Thomas Frank

After the West Ham supporters urged Potter to give Walker-Peters a run of games in place of the underperforming Wan-Bissaka, they got their wish. Should the England international start again tonight, this will be his third in succession.

And while skipper Jarrod Bowen raved about Malick Diouf’s crossing ability recently – the Senegalese sensation assisted Callum Wilson’s stoppage time header at the City Ground – he showed another side of his game with a solid defensive display up against the dangerous Ndoye.

Kilman, meanwhile, expects a difficult challenge against a Tottenham side far more controlled and far less chaotic than they were under Ange Postecoglou.

“I think they’re definitely a tougher side to break down,” the centre-back adds. “I think defensively they’ve really improved, and, of course, they have strengthened their squad as well from last season, so I think they’re going to be a top team.

“We have to back ourselves, and we’ve got a really good group as well, so I think it’s going to be a really good game, and hopefully we come out on top. I think now we’re in a really, really good place, and we just need to keep improving.”

They say never change a winning team but Graham Potter is going to be forced to when West Ham take on bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium.

West Ham are back in Premier League action after the international break and they don’t come much bigger than Spurs.

The Hammers have a vastly inferior record to Tottenham in the long history of this particular London derby with 67 wins to Spurs’ 102 while there have been 56 draws.

West Ham have not lost at home to Tottenham Hotspur in six years, though.

Graham Potter will be looking to maintain that record as the Irons aim to build some momentum off the back of the superb 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest last time out.

Potter admitted the international break came at a bad time for his side after that much-needed victory.

All eyes on Kudus and Potter’s West Ham team selection

Meanwhile Spurs face the Hammers off the back of losing 1-0 at home to Bournemouth in their last game.

A journalist has revealed what Mohammed Kudus privately thinks about facing West Ham with Spurs.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Kudus is set to be the big sub-plot to what promises to be a feisty derby where bragging rights are everything.

Despite the encouraging result at Forest, West Ham fans were left furious with the club’s owners on deadline day when they failed to make any other additions besides defender Igor Julio on a straight loan from Brighton.

Talk heading into the last day of the window was that the Hammers were targeting a centre-back, another midfielder and a striker as well as a goalkeeper.

Spurs meanwhile brought in Dutch midfield star Xavi Simons in a £51m deal and PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan to finish off their summer business, which included the controversial signing of Kudus from West Ham.

West Ham’s excellent result and performance coupled with Tottenham’s defeat – in which they were booed by their fans – means this game promises to be more competitive than it would have been a few weeks ago.

Team selection and tactics will be absolutely pivotal.

Potter has been given a leg-up after a Tottenham coach was overhead revealing key tactics for the West Ham clash.

As the rivals count down to the 5.30pm kick-off at the London Stadium, all eyes turn to Potter’s starting XI.

The predicted West Ham team for Spurs sees Potter forced into two big changes.

West Ham looked defensively solid for the first time this season after switching to a back four when they won at the City Ground.

Potter forced into two big changes for Spurs?

But some Hammers fans are concerned Potter may be tempted to revert to three at the back and wingbacks for the visit of Tottenham.

Potter would undoubtedly like to adhere to the old saying ‘never change a winning team’ but has little choice after the events of the international break.

Striker Niclas Fullkrug picked up a new calf injury while away with Germany.

He returned early to east London without kicking a ball for Die Mannschaft.

Potter insists the injury is nothing too serious and Fullkrug has been seen in light training ahead of the Spurs game.

It seems highly unlikely the German will be risked this soon, though, given he spent six of the nine months of last season on the sidelines with calf problems.

Potter cast doubt on Fullkrug’s involvement vs Spurs in his pre-match press conference.

But he also stated it may be too soon for Callum Wilson to start given he is still playing catch-up from a lack of pre-season action after leaving Newcastle.

Who should replace Fullkrug is the biggest dilemma for Potter and one which will likely result in another big change to the team.

Given the manager’s comments it seems logical that captain Jarrod Bowen or in-form Lucas Paqueta will start up front in place of Fullkrug.

Paqueta actually played the false nine role excellently in the cup defeat at Wolves, scoring one of the four goals he already has to his name this season.

Bowen offers West Ham so much off the right we think the Brazilian magnifico will get the nod from Potter to start up top.

That would require someone to take Paqueta’s place in the middle.

Potter can then move the brilliant Mateus Fernandes inside – if he resists the temptation to play it safe and start Guido Rodriguez.

There is also the option of throwing Soungoutou Magassa straight in for his debut, but that seems unlikely.

Fullkrug out, Paqueta up top and big decision Summerville?

With Fernandes moving inside, West Ham will need to bring someone in to play out on the left.

That begs the big question whether Potter feels game-changing Crysencio Summerville is fit enough to start against Spurs.

The flying Dutchman was the key to West Ham’s win at Forest, playing a big hand in all three goals.

Summerville got the assist for Bowen, won the penalty for Paqueta to convert and then started the move on the break which saw Wilson head home.

Another surprise option could be Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The full-back was dropped last time out with Kyle Walker-Peters playing well in his stead.

Wan-Bissaka can play left or right and could be deployed in front of El Hadji Malick Diouf to give West Ham extra security and pace against Kudus.

That would then allow Potter to bring Summerville on in the hope he can have the same devastating impact from the bench.

Given what is at stake – and providing the medical team are happy there is no increased risk from starting as opposed to coming on as sub – we hope Potter goes with Summerville from the start.

It gives Thomas Frank something to think about and will keep Spurs pinned back knowing West Ham have Summerville one side and Bowen the other.

Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Spurs:

Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Paqueta.

Official teams will be announced at 4.15pm.

It could be a day of numerous debuts when Graham Potter’s West Ham United host bitter Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s 5.30 kick-off.

While Potter weighs up handing Callum Wilson a first start in a claret and blue shirt, Soungoutou Magassa and Igor Julio may feature for West Ham after joining late in the summer window.

The visitors, meanwhile, should have Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani available.

Xavi, one of the finest young attackers on the continent, joined in a £51 million deal from RB Leipzig. France international Kolo Muani arrives on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, with Frank highlighting the flexibility of a forward who can play all across the attack.

But after Potter admitted that Niclas Fullkrug is a doubt for Saturday’s derby – West Ham United could be without their first-choice striker after the German picked up a calf injury – Frank confirms that Tottenham will make the 12 mile journey without their £65 million record signing, Dominic Solanke.

Thomas Frank rules Dominic Solanke out of Tottenham’s West Ham United clash

Solanke appeared in Tottenham’s first three matches of the new campaign before an ankle problem which ruled him out of the 1-0 defeat by AFC Bournemouth before the international break.

Richarlison is likely to start up top again, then, although the Brazilian has made an excellent start to the season.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“Everyone is fine, everyone returned from international duties well so that’s always positive. Very happy about that,” Frank said, albeit Spurs are still without long-term absentees Radu Dragusin, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

“Dom will not be available still. I don’t expect it to be too long [before he returns] but he will not be available for this game.

“I think right now we are doing everything we can – the medical team – to get on top of it and that’s what we’re focusing on. I get a feeling he is not too far away, but he’s just fallen short for this week.

“Both [Xavi and Kolo Muani] are looking good,” the former Brentford boss adds while predicting Mohammed Kudus will face a ‘hostile’ reception on his return to West Ham.

“Both of them are definitely in contention to be ready for the squad. Xavi, for natural reasons, is further down the line. He just started the first game for Holland and played a few games for Leipzig.

“Definitely in terms of Randal, it’s been a while since he’s played. Last time was in the Club World Cup. Hasn’t trained really with PSG. So he is not as fit as Xavi, but he looks good.

“Xavi, I see him mainly as a ten or a left-sided player or left winger. Whereas Kolo, I can see him playing as striker and he can play both wings, I would say.”

Potter says Crysencio Summerville gives West Ham ‘another dimension’

Graham Potter can enjoy the luxury of his own selection dilemma, with Crysencio Summerville in contention for a first start since January.

The self-confident Summerville is determined to belatedly prove his worth at West Ham, while the head coach feels one of the few genuinely jet-heeled players in his squad can offer a different sort of ‘dimension’ in the final third.

“It’s great to have him. [Summerville] gives us another dimension,” Potter said during his press conference on Thursday. “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.”

A journalist has revealed what Mohammed Kudus told her privately about what it means to him to be facing his former club West Ham with Tottenham Hotspur.

Mohammed Kudus is set to run the gauntlet when he takes on West Ham for the first time since his move to bitter Premier League rivals Spurs.

The Ghanaian will be thanking his lucky stars he is not returning to West Ham while they were still at Upton Park rather than the infinitely less intimidating London Stadium.

The Boleyn under the lights would have swallowed a player like Kudus whole.

Especially if they left to join Tottenham and went on to unashamedly profess their love for the north Londoners in the process.

There is a reason players do not move between West Ham and Spurs.

Kudus has infuriated West Ham fans with his Spurs goading

Not a single player had been traded between the rivals since January 2011 prior to Kudus joining Tottenham from West Ham for £54.5m in the summer.

West Ham’s board must take much of the blame for leaving the club in a position where they had to sell a top player to a club their supporters dislike more than any other besides Millwall.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

It is well publicised that Kudus wanted to join Liverpool, then Chelsea as it had long been clear he would be leaving a Hammers side pleading PSR poverty.

In the end only Spurs would cough up the money to make West Ham blink – and better still paid in three instalments rather than over the length of Kudus’ contract as is normal in most transfers.

But West Ham fans will not forget how Kudus has handled the move to north London.

Kudus has been branded ‘Judus’ – intentionally misspelt for the play on words – in light of his comments following the transfer.

An inflammatory unveiling saw Kudus declare he ‘only wanted Spurs’ when leaving the Hammers.

Kudus was also seen telling Tottenham’s doctor he would ‘find Spurs in there’ as he examined his heart during medical tests.

Hammers insiders previously claimed Kudus was persistently late to training during pre-season in order to force the move to Tottenham. Although that has been denied by the player’s camp ahead of his return to the London Stadium.

What Kudus told journalist about facing West Ham with Spurs

It is a ground Kudus lit up during his debut season and where he came up with his trademark celebration whereby he sits on the advertising hoardings or a stool.

The highlight was his Maradona-esque goal of the tournament in a Europa League win over Freiburg.

Now the Hammers will be hoping he hits a low point on his return to the stadium.

The old saying lower than a snake’s belly seems to be particularly apt given that is what West Ham fans have labelled Kudus.

But how does he feel about the return to the club which brought him to the Premier League stage?

A journalist has revealed what Kudus told her privately about facing West Ham with Spurs.

The Ghanaian forward’s candid admission offers an insight into what he really thinks about the Hammers.

And the answer appears to be very little judging by the conversation.

Speaking to Tottenham boss Thomas Frank in his pre-West Ham press conference, Vaishali Bhardwaj lifted the lid on her exchange with Kudus ahead of the game.

Kudus makes it clear West Ham are insignificant to him

“I asked him before the international break about this game,” Bhardwaj said.

“And he said ‘Look it’s just another game for me’.”

It seems West Ham are already so utterly insignificant to Kudus they are just any other game to the ex Ajax star.

If Kudus wasn’t assured of a white-hot reception before, he certainly is now.

Frank conceded Kudus is ‘probably aware of the extra noise’ around his return to West Ham and quipped ‘You don’t think they’ll applaud him?”