'I definitely didn't say it!': West Ham starlet on Portsmouth ambition, THAT Cesc Fabregas comparison and sweeping up player awards

West Ham starlet Freddie Potts has flourished with regular first-team football - now stepping up to the Championship with Pompey signals the next challenge of his development.

The 20-year-old has arrived on a season-long loan after catching the eye during a similar spell with Wycombe in League One last term.

Adams Park represented Potts’ first playing spell away from the Hammers, resulting in 44 games and being crowned Supporters’ Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.

Such was his outstanding impact, Bucks Free Press sports writer James Richings even drew similarities with a youthful Fabregas.

Now the central midfielder is striving to enhance his burgeoning reputation with the Blues.

Potts told The News: ‘I did all right last season, although I don’t like to get too ahead of myself. It was nice to get those awards, but I just want to give my best every single game.

‘It was the best decision for me to play in League One, I was regularly involved and found myself getting more and more confident as I adapted to the league and environment. I got better and better and was really happy about it.

‘I had a good number of games and I feel I’ve proven myself in League One - now I want to go forward to the Championship.

‘I definitely didn’t say the Fabregas comparison, but I’ll take it! That’s a compliment I am more than happy with.

‘I like to get on the ball and give my best, that’s just who I am. I’m a really competitive player who loves to win and gets on the ball and makes things happen.

‘Fabregas has a good spatial awareness of where players are and can make tricky passes - cute, disguised passes - which I tried to implement into my game as much as possible at Wycombe last year.

‘Sometimes it paid off, sometimes it didn't, it’s a risk, but that is something I like to do. Although I base myself more as a six, there’s nothing to stop me being an eight or going further forward. I back myself in any position in midfield, doing the job for the team.

‘I have always been a midfielder, right the way through the West Ham age groups since joining at the age of five. My dad was obviously a defender and tried to get me playing there, but I told him “No, it’s midfield for me”!’

Potts netted twice for Wycombe last season, with his first earning him runner-up in the Chairboys’ Goal of the Season competition.

Arriving in the eighth league outing of his career, he produced a right-footed volley from the edge of the area to register in a 3-1 defeat at Charlton in September 2023.

Potts added: ‘I’m gutted I didn’t win Goal of the Season for that. It was the first goal of my professional career - and my best!

‘Mind you, I was beaten by Nigel Lonwijk at Reading (March 2024). He’s a centre-half and somehow brought out a bicycle kick. It was such a good goal, I couldn’t really complain.

‘I want to get more goals and more goal involvements this season, you’ll see that from me at Pompey, getting forward more and taking more shots.’