A trip to Aston Villa which could, by objective measure at least, spell the end of West Ham’s hopes for serious success this season does not exactly represent the gentlest of starts to Graham Potter’s reign. There again, after 21 months out of management, it is little surprise the former Chelsea boss cannot wait to dive back in.
Having only been appointed on Thursday morning, Potter took training for the first time in the afternoon and gave no thought to the idea that he might have waited until after tonight’s FA Cup third-round tie to stand in the dugout for the first time.
