While watching West Ham United’s Under-21s obliterate MK Dons and wondering why Graham Potter’s first-team seem incapable of such fluidity, the continued absence of Freddie Potts from the senior set-up was another question on the lips of many supporters.

Despite a fine pre-season and a terrific loan spell at Portsmouth in England’s second tier, the academy graduate has played only 45 minutes of first-team football in 2025/26.

Freddie Potts made his Premier League debut as a half-time substitute in the 5-1 collapse at home to Chelsea.

That, however, represents his one and only appearance under Graham Potter to date. Much to the frustration of the West Ham United faithful, the under-fire head coach continues to press on with the ageing trio of James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek and even Guido Rodriguez.

Now, Soucek picked up a red card against Tottenham last time out, meaning he is unavailable for Saturday’s Crystal Palace clash at the London Stadium. Yet, as Mateus Fernandes makes an ‘exceptional’ early impression and after Soungoutou Magassa impressed off the bench on Saturday, opportunities for young Potts could remain frustratingly elusive.

Graham Potter explains his Freddie Potts plan at West Ham United

Speaking during his press conference on Thursday lunchtime, Graham Potter attempted to calm some of the fears demonstrated by an unhappy fanbase after his near-namesake dropped back into Mark Robson’s Under-21 set up for that midweek EFL Trophy victory.

“Freddie has had a really positive journey so far with the academy, with the loans,” Potter replies.

“It’s his first season back with us, in terms of the first-team. In pre-season, he did well. We know his qualities. He has to work hard with the team, the players, for this opportunity.

“The Premier League is a competitive league. So of course we want to integrate players. l look at my previous record, [giving youth a chance] is something I am very proud of. But you have to do it at the right time for the club, the team, and the individual.”

Potter clearly has reservations about throwing Potts in at the deep end, especially as the London Stadium atmosphere turns increasingly toxic. Hardly the ideal environment with which to blood the club’s next generation, he thinks.

“Freddie has done well and we will continue to to work with him. That’s where he’s at,” adds the manager. “That is the challenge of the Premier League, the level is going up and up and up.

“It’s important for us, that’s why we have a close relationship with Mark [Robson]. We’ve just moved Gerrard [Prenderville, the Under-21s assistant coach] across to bridge the gap, to help us from a coaching perspective.

“The things are in place but we’ve got a team, a Premier League game to fight for. You’ve got to grow everything at the same time.”

Potts impressed Mark Robson in EFL Trophy victory over MK Dons

While Preston Fearon hit a stylish first-half brace and Callum Marshall sent Potter a reminder of his own talents – the Northern Ireland international was another who shone over the summer – Potts understandably looked a cut above his fourth-tier opponents at Stadium MK.

“The lads were really on it tonight. We played some excellent football and I thought we looked a really good outfit,” Robson told the club’s official website. “It was great to have a couple of the older lads back in and getting some valuable game time.

“Freddie, George [Earthy], Callum, they were all excellent.”