Graham Potter, the newly appointed head coach of West Ham United, had nothing but praise for Mohammed Kudus after his stellar performance in the FA Cup match against Aston Villa. Despite the 2-1 defeat, Kudus stood out as the target man after Niclas Fullkrug was forced to leave the game due to injury early on.
In a post-match interview, Potter commended Kudus for his dangerous play and impressive attributes on the field. He stated that he had no qualms about Kudus leading the Hammers’ attack in the absence of multiple strikers.
“Mo [Kudus] was really dangerous. He’s got some good attributes,” Potter said. “He worked really well in the first half, pressing and winning balls. He 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.”
With injuries sidelining key players like Fullkrug, Michail Antonio, and Jarod Bowen, Potter sees Kudus as a viable option to lead the Hammers’ attack in upcoming matches.
“I was encouraged. He played more centrally than he has done for a bit. He quite likes that central role to the right,” Potter explained. “He comes in on that left foot and he’s a threat. He offers us a good option, absolutely.”
West Ham is set to face two Premier League London derbies in the coming week. They will play against Fulham on Tuesday, January 14, followed by a match against Crystal Palace on Saturday, January 18, at the London Stadium. Kudus is expected to continue leading the attack in these crucial games, especially with Danny Ings struggling to score this season.
Potter’s confidence in Kudus reflects the potential and talent that the Ghanaian international brings to the team. As West Ham navigates through a challenging period with multiple key players injured, Kudus’s performance offers hope for success in the upcoming matches.
