West Ham United fans are beginning to see glimpses of what new manager Graham Potter could bring to the team, especially with his tactical experimentation involving Mohammed Kudus.
The Ghana star, who has struggled this season to replicate his brilliance from last year, was deployed in an “inside right” role during Potter’s latest setup when the Hammers lost to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The move seemed to reinvigorate Kudus, with the head coach singling him out for praise after the match.
“Mo was really dangerous,” Potter remarked. “He’s got some good attributes. He worked really well, first half, pressing, won some balls. Carried a threat. He was affected by the team in the second half because it was more difficult for him to get into the game.”
Kudus’s positional adjustment raises intriguing possibilities for the team’s attacking dynamic, particularly in the absence of Jarrod Bowen, currently sidelined with a foot fracture.
Potter hinted at a potential role change for Bowen upon his return: “He [Kudus] played more centrally than he has done for a bit. He quite likes that central role to the right…he offers us a good option, absolutely.”
With Summerville showing defensive discipline as a wing-back, Potter might have found a combination that balances attack and defence.
