Head Coach Graham Potter has welcomed George Earthy back into his first-team squad ahead of West Ham United’s home Premier League opener against Chelsea on Friday evening.
The creative midfielder suffered an ankle injury in pre-season training at Rush Green early in July, causing him to miss the training camp in Germany and Premier League Summer Series to work on his recovery.
Now, though, the 20-year-old is fit again and was back on the pitches with his teammates ahead of the Blues’ visit to London Stadium.
The 2023 FA Youth Cup winner, 2023/24 Young Hammer of the Year and Young Player of the Year following a superb loan spell at EFL Championship club Bristol City in 2024/25 is hoping to add to the three Premier League appearances he made during the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, highlighted by a goal in a home win over Luton Town.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference at Rush Green, Potter confirmed Earthy’s return, but also that an injury will rule Brazilian youngster Luis Guilherme out of Friday’s derby.
“Everybody's fine,” the Head Coach said, when asked for team news. “George Earthy trained with the group today, so he was the only one.
“We had Luis Guilherme go over on his shoulder in the week before the Sunderland game, so he's still missing. But apart from that, everybody's okay.”
Potter also confirmed that Mads Hermansen will keep goal against Chelsea. The Dane made his West Ham debut at Sunderland last weekend and will keep his place ahead of Alphonse Areola and Wes Foderingham to make his first appearance for the Club at London Stadium.
“I didn't think I needed to have a one-to-one chat with him,” Potter said, when asked how he had managed Hermansen following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light. “Of course, he's got goalkeeper coaches that support him [in Casper Ankergren and Linus Kandolin].
“I've been checking him and looking at him and he's absolutely fine. He has trained really well and he'll play tomorrow (Friday).”
