'Proud' Potts looking forward to England action: defender and West Ham teammate Hall called up to U20 World Cup squad

After a lack of West Ham players in Stuart Pearce’s England U21 squad may have come as a disappointment, Dan Potts and Rob Hall have both been named in Peter Taylor’s provision U20 squad for the upcoming FIFA U20 World Cup this summer.

 

Taylor has named the two Hammers in the 35 man squad, but this will be cut down to just 21 on June 7th, so the young pair will have to impress in the training camp.

For Potts, this was an added bonus after initially being included in the U19 team for the UEFA European U19 Championship Elite Qualifying Round, but he will now be trying to impress at the next level.

The 19 year old defender told whufc.com: "I'm pleased to have been called-up, definitely... I'm very proud. It's a great experience. International football is a different kind of football. There is a lot to take in and you are representing your country at the end of the day.

"As much as it being a proud honour, you want to do your best for your country and the main objective is to do well.

"At the end of the day, as a young footballer you want to be at the top and it doesn't get much better than representing your country, that's for sure."

Potts also reflected on his season with the West Ham U21s and the first team, and he is pleased with his progress this season.

He said: "Looking back, I've got some good memories. I've had some good results and some bad results but it's all experience and a learning curve, so I take nothing but positives from them."

He also described his personal highlight from the season, singling out the 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the FA Cup.

On that match, he said: "It was definitely up there with my best individual performances. You've got to take into account I was playing against the future champions of England. It was a great experience and now I just want to push on into next year."

Meanwhile, Rob Hall’s England  experience at U17 level will hold him in good stead for this new challenge. After an impressive season on loan with Bolton and Birmingham, he will be hoping for a bigger opportunity at international level.

The U20 World Cup will be held in Turkey from June 21st and England will face Iraq, Chile and Egypt in Group E.

By Lucy Woolford, Youth and Development Squad reporter

@lucy_whufc

Lee and Moncur honoured in Hammers awards

Last night saw the well publicised West Ham United season awards ceremony, and as well as Winston Reid’s big HOTY win there were a couple of nominations and awards for members of the U18 and U21 sides.

The nominees for Academy Player of the Year were selected by Tony Carr MBE, and he picked Elliot Lee, Kieran Sadlier and Frazer Shaw. Sadlier has had a great season as the top scorer for the U18s, Shaw’s performances saw him promoted to the U21 side, but the award went to 18-year-old Lee who was given a first team debut this year in the FA Cup replay against Manchester United at Old Trafford. After a short illness, Lee’s form continued in the U21 side, so he was a deserving winner.

After winning the award, Lee told whufc.com:  "Brilliant, I'm delighted. I couldn't be any happier. It has just capped off a great season and to get this at the end of the campaign is brilliant. I love scoring goals!"

Carr was also in charge of picking Young Hammer of the Year, which as always was a tough contest. George Moncur, Sebastian Lletget and Dan Potts were nominated.

Potts’ first team season was unfortunately cut short by a head injury suffered in the 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in Februay, but he played six times with the full squad and impressed whilst on loan at Colchester United.

Lletget and Moncur have been an impressive midfield pair in U21 action with 50 appearances and four goals between them. Moncur edged it to win Young Hammer of the Year, and we hope to see much more of him next season.

By Lucy Woolford, Youth and Development Squad reporter

@lucy_whufc