After hearing the news that West Ham defender Abadoulaye Faye had suffered a pre match, warm up injury, Sam Allardyce was forced, just five minutes before kick-off, to reach into the hidden depths of his squad once again and hand teenage defender Dan Potts, son of Steve Potts, his debut at Upton Park.
Potts goes against the usual dimensions Allardyce tends to prefer. He’s build is short and slim as opposed to Diop, Carew, and the other man mountains that Allardyce has signed this season. When Potts stepped out on the field with his slight frame it looked more like he was on work experience with West Ham than a debut match. It wasn’t long, however, until young Potts proved he had great weight to his game.
It was clear right away that Dan’s performance would predictably emulate that of his fathers. In Steve Potts’ long served career with the Hammers he had always been reliable at the back. His son seemed no different. He was solid throughout. In fact his performance impressed so much that when West Ham’s captain Kevin Nolan was named man of the match, boos sounded around the stadium. The opinion that Dan Potts had done enough to earn this honour was seconded by Hollywood actor and local boy Russell Brand who told him “You’re a chip off the ole block aren’t you. You were brilliant- I thought you should have got man of the match.”
There’s no question that Dan Potts looks like one for the future but if by some miracle there comes a time when West Ham’s back line is fully fit, is there a place for him in the current starting line up? If he continues to perform at the level he played on his debut then perhaps there is. It’s good to know however that with a mounting injury list, and a long road ahead, West Ham look to have enough depth in their squad to carry them through.
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