DAN POTTS

Born: 13 April 1994, Romford, England
Former clubs: None

A versatile and composed defender blessed with great ability, Dan Potts has followed his famous father Steve through the ranks at the Academy of Football.

Potts was rewarded with a first professional contract and first-team debut in the same week in December 2011, impressing as West Ham United scored a 1-0 home npower Championship victory over Barnsley at the Boleyn Ground.

Already capped by England at Under-18 level, the teenager is looking to make his mark for both club and country over the coming years.

2011/12

Named as an unused substitute for the 2-0 npower Championship victory at Hull City on 5 November 2011...Scored a last-minute equaliser in the 2-2 development-squad draw at Gillingham on 8 November 2011...Captained West Ham United Under-18s to a 3-2 FA Youth Cup third-round success at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 7 December 2011...Signed his first professional contract with West Ham United by penning a two-and-a-half year deal on 16 December 2011...Made his first-team debut by starting the 1-0 home npower Championship victory over Barnsley on 17 December 2011...Kept his place for the Boxing Day draw at Birmingham City and New Year's Eve defeat at Derby County...Made his FA Cup debut in the 1-0 third-round defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on 8 January 2012...Captained West Ham United Under-18s to the FA Youth Cup fifth round, gaining victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton and Hove Albion before losing out to Chelsea in a penalty shootout...Named 2011/12 Young Hammer of the Year by Academy Director Tony Carr.

International career

Qualifies for both England through birth and the United States through his Hartford, Connecticut-born father Steve...Made his United States Under-20 debut as a substitute in a' 2-1 friendly defeat by France in Vichy in May 2011...Made his England Under-18 debut in a 3-0 friendly win over Poland at Crewe Alexandra on 7 March 2012.

Before West Ham United

None.

Any other business

Is the son of former West Ham United defender Steve Potts, who made 505 first-team appearances for the club between 1985 and 2002...Overcame a life-threatening bout of leukaemia, being diagnosed at the age of 12 before getting the all-clear in spring 2010.