West Ham: Graham Potter ready to get ‘creative’ as he considers Mohammed Kudus switch to solve striker crisis | OneFootball

Potter facing attacking conundrum for first home game in charge against Fulham

Those injuries leave Danny Ings, a spritely 32 years young, as the club’s only fit striker. Ings is no doubt braced for plenty of game time in the coming weeks, but will Potter pick him from the start and stick to the 4-2-3-1 system he used against Villa and which Julen Lopetegui deployed before him? Or is it time to roll the dice?

While Monday night’s news that Jarrod Bowen is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a fractured foot was welcomed at West Ham, it does nothing to relieve Graham Potter of the immediate conundrum of how to set up his makeshift attack.

Besides Bowen, Michail Antonio is out for the season after his car accident in December, Niclas Fullkrug is out for months with a hamstring injury suffered 15 minutes into Potter’s first game in charge against Aston Villa last Friday, and Crysencio Summerville’s minor injury looks set to keep him out of Tuesday’s visit of Fulham.

Niclas Fullkrug is out for months with the hamstring injury he suffered at Aston Villa

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With his hands tied, Potter must come up with solutions.

Those injuries leave 32-year-old Danny Ings as the only fit striker at West Ham.

Ings is no doubt braced for plenty of game time in the coming weeks, but will Potter pick him from the start and stick to the 4-2-3-1 system he used against Villa and which Julen Lopetegui deployed before him? Or is it time to roll the dice?

“Well, exactly,” said Potter, when reminded that Mohammed Kudus has experience leading the line for both West Ham and previous club Ajax.

Lucas Paqueta scored the first goal of Potter’s reign when he passed coolly into the bottom corner in Friday’s eventual 2-1 defeat against Villa in the FA Cup. Potter feels he could also deputise up front.

“We've got other options. Lucas can play there, [and] obviously Danny.”

Lucas Paqueta scored the first goal of the Potter reign and could also deputise up front

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While Kudus is more experienced stepping in as an emergency striker than Paqueta, Potter did not hold back as he complimented the Brazilian on his tactical malleability.

“He could play pretty much anywhere,” said Potter. “I think the key for Lucas is he's enjoying his football, and he feels how important he is to the team. If he has that mentality and goes onto the pitch with a smile and accepts the responsibility that comes with [being] someone of his talent, then I think he can do anything. He has got the attributes to do it - but these are just ideas.”

Potter’s first line-up as West Ham manager was interesting.

On the face of it, he had stuck with the same front four Lopetegui had selected at Manchester City in what proved his final game in charge.

But Potter had tinkered, moving Summerville out to the right, Paqueta left, and with Kudus through the middle, behind the now-injured Fullkrug.

Was this indicative of how Potter sees these players, or simply one of a multitude of options?

“A bit of both,” the manager explained. “For that game, we thought a right-footed player [Summerville] on the right side, high, would be helpful.”

Might Potter play safe by picking the same attack again, subbing in Ings for Fullkrug?

Could it even be time for a first start for 18-year-old winger Luis Guilherme? None are perfect, but there are plenty of options.

While West Ham’s efforts to sign a striker in the next fortnight go on in the background, for now Potter must paper over the cracks by finding a system and attacking personnel that work.