Graham Potter has made it clear that bringing through Academy players is a significant part of his role at West Ham.
During his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow night’s Premier League clash against Fulham, the new Hammers head coach was asked if he had been tasked with promoting Academy players to the first team.
Potter already earned some goodwill with fans by starting Ollie Scarles against Aston Villa, and it seems he isn’t stopping there.
“The West Ham Academy is central to the club,” Potter said. “The FA Youth Cup success in recent years suggests there are good players in the group. We also understand that supporters need to see youth players in the team.”
He added: “When looking at positions, we will always try to see if we can find solutions internally.”
Those words will be music to the ears of West Ham fans. Potter went on to say that incorporating youth players into the first team is a great way to win fans’ support and build trust between the supporters and the team.
The new Hammers gaffer also spoke enthusiastically about working alongside Mark Noble. From Potter’s three interviews and press conferences so far, it’s clear he fully understands the importance of promoting youth as part of his responsibilities
