Potter on Antonio, Wilson and spending
- Published
West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before his side take on Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series on Sunday (19:00 BST).
Here is what he has had to say:
On the future of Michail Antonio, Potter said: "We're in a position where we're making sure we at least provide Michail with the option to train with the under 21s, to keep his team training up, to make sure he's at the next stage of his rehab. Then it's up to me to see where the next part of his career goes."
Pressed on if Antonio might play - given he played for Jamaica in June - Potter said the striker will not be part of his first-team group, adding: "Yes, he can still play of course. No, he's not going to play for West Ham, that's basically the point. We're in the process of speaking about what he wants to do in the future, so I wouldn't want to say too much. If anything, it will be a role, maybe looking at with the 21s, coaching, mentoring, that type of thing. But again, that will be up to him."
The former Brighton boss praised the attitude of his players in pre-season, stating: "Everybody's OK, everybody's trained today. We've done really well in terms of keeping everybody available. The players have been fantastic in terms of how they've worked. The spirit in the team's good, the spirit in the group's good. So we're looking forward to the game."
The Hammers boss says he feels this season is the time to judge him given he did not get a pre-season with the team when appointed: "The group has got ambition, the group has determination, but we know it's the Premier League. It's a brutal competition. Everyone's very, very tough, so we have to remain focused on what we have to do, which is our very, very best. Then I think we can have a positive season."
On the injury-record of new signing Callum Wilson, Potter said he thinks he can "help" the recruit, adding: "I think we've done well with Niklas Fullkrug in terms of helping him be injury-free, touch wood. We had a similar situation in one of my old clubs with Danny Welbeck, we arrived with a history of injuries and it ended up pretty well for Brighton and Danny. So, I think if we can do the same with Callum, we'll have a really good striker on our hands."
Asked if he is happy with the backing he has had in the transfer market, Potter said: "Yes, I don't see it in those ways, to be honest. I don't see it as backing me or not, it's about what's right for the club, the parameters that the club have to work in. I'm really happy with what we've done already, we'll always look to improve the team while the window's open, and if there's an opportunity to do that, we will."