The success hasn’t always followed, but West Ham United have had some sensational players represent them in the modern era.
For example, while he ended up leaving for another London side, Declan Rice was unreal for the Hammers, making 245 appearances and captaining them to Conference League glory.
However, there is only really one player in the current side who can be classed as a legend: Jarrod Bowen.
The former Hull City star is the talisman and beating heart of the team, but in good news, there might now be another player on his way to becoming just as, if not more important to West Ham and Nuno Espírito Santo than Bowen.
Bowen's start to the season
While the rest of the team struggled last season, Bowen was once again the standout player and one of the very best attackers in the entire league.
In his 36 appearances across all competitions, totalling 3148 minutes, the England international scored 14 goals and provided ten assists.
That came out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 131.16 minutes.
Therefore, while there was plenty of discussion over how the rest of the team would fare this season, fans and pundits alike were quite certain the former Hull star would once again excel.
Unsurprisingly, they were right, as while he perhaps hasn’t been at his very best, the 28-year-old has been one of the only players to show any fight this year.
For example, in 11 appearances, totalling 990 minutes, he has scored three goals and provided two assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.2 games or every 198 minutes.
More importantly, though, he has scored some crucial goals, such as the opener against Nottingham Forest and the equaliser against Everton.
That second goal gave Nuno a positive start to life in East London, and while he hasn’t scored since, he did provide an assist against Leeds United.
Moreover, even without a goal involvement, he was excellent against Newcastle United, playing two key passes, taking four shots and hitting the woodwork once.
In all, Bowen has been and remains West Ham’s most important player, but there is now someone else who, in the future, could take that title off him.
West Ham's future talisman
Now, the first thing to say is that with everything Bowen has done for West Ham and the brilliant level at which he continues to perform, it is going to take some time before another player becomes as important as him.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, with him turning 29 next month, there is going to come a point at which that is the case, and the player who looks like they could take his place is Freddie Potts.
Yes, it is still early days in the Englishman’s West Ham career, but he looked utterly sensational against Newcastle.
For example, even though it was his first competitive start for the club and in the Premier League, the 22-year-old looked as comfortable as a seasoned veteran and played like one too.
From breaking up attacks to kickstaring them for the Hammer, the academy graduate was truly excellent in all phases of play, and as presenter Tom Rennie put it, looks like “an actual dynasty player.”
It might sound like hyperbole, but his statistics from the game suggest otherwise.
In his 90 minutes of action, the Englishman played two key passes, completed two crosses, was accurate in 33 of 39 passes, took 57 touches, won 66% of his tackles, made six clearances and won 75% of his ground duels.
|
Potts’ game vs Newcastle
|
|
Minutes
|
90′
|
|
Key Passes
|
2
|
|
Crosses
|
2
|
|
Passes
|
33/39
|
|
Touches
|
57
|
|
Tackles (Won)
|
3 (2)
|
|
Interceptions
|
1
|
|
Clearances
|
6
|
|
Recoveries
|
1
|
|
Ground Duels (Won)
|
4 (3)
|
|
All Stats via Sofascore
|
Now, another reason he could eventually become more important to the Hammers than Bowen, beyond the simple passage of time, is where he plays.
As an all-action central midfielder, the Barking-born monster could become the linchpin around which the team is built, someone who picks up the ball deep and carries it to the attackers.
In other words, if he ends up being as good as so many expect him to be, he could be the one who makes Nuno’s side tick a few years from now.
Ultimately, it’s early in Potts’ career and Bowen remains West Ham’s most important player, but in time, that could change.
Every word Nuno said when asked directly about West Ham fan protest
The manager was asked for his thoughts after supporters staged a sit-in protest on Sunday.
By
Dominic Lund
Nov 3, 2025