Midway through the January transfer window, West Ham United first expressed an interest in recalling James Ward-Prowse from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest.
Ex-head coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked and had been replaced by Graham Potter. West Ham sources, kept anonymous like all of those spoken to for this article to protect relationships, say there was an acceptance internally that it was a mistake letting the midfielder leave last summer. After featuring in the first Premier League game of the season against Aston Villa and in the League Cup against Bournemouth, Lopetegui informed Ward-Prowse that he was not in his plans. He then joined Forest on deadline day in August on a season-long loan.
But the 30-year-old struggled to force his way into Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting XI. His preferred midfield partnership was captain Ryan Yates alongside either Nico Dominguez or Elliot Anderson. Ward-Prowse only made nine Premier League appearances, five of which were starts. Given his lack of minutes, it was mutually agreed between the two clubs to end the loan prematurely.
“It was very hard because since James came in he was a big help for us,” said Nuno in his press conference before their FA Cup win over Exeter City. “I had the chance to speak to him and explain that it wasn’t an easy situation and every game he played he helped us. There was a moment where he was not playing and then his parent club told us that their intention was to call for him and the intention was that everybody felt the decision was for the best for all parties.”
Despite Ward-Prowse’s lack of game time at Forest, Forest sources say Yates often leaned on him for advice in his role as captain. Ward-Prowse has leadership qualities, having worn the armband for boyhood club Southampton. Forest club insiders say the midfielder was a good presence around the training ground and formed a close bond with Yates, Harry Toffolo and Zach Abbott.
Ward-Prowse spent the first half of the season on loan at Nottingham Forest (Getty Images)
Nuno was an admirer of Ward-Prowse before his arrival. He valued the example he set in the dressing room and his professionalism even when he was a figure on the periphery. Forest signed Anderson in the summer from Newcastle United to predominantly play wide on the left flank in a 4-2-3-1 system. But the 22-year-old has proved to be a versatile performer, with Nuno favouring him in central midfield, the position Ward-Prowse plays.
His limited minutes were compounded by Nuno dropping Morgan Gibbs-White, a No 10, into a deeper role in the latter stages of games instead of bringing on Ward-Prowse. When midfielders Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare — both of whom were injured in August — returned to fitness in mid-January, it prompted West Ham to formalise plans for Ward-Prowse’s return.
The 11-time England international is happy to be back at his parent club. He joined from Southampton for £30million ($37.41m at today’s rates) in August 2023 and registered seven goals and 11 assists at West Ham last season. Potter has been impressed with Ward-Prowse’s performances in training. The midfielder will provide depth to West Ham’s midfield, which consists of Tomas Soucek, Carlos Soler, Andy Irving, Guido Rodriguez, Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez and academy prospect Lewis Orford.
Ward-Prowse’s link-up play and set-piece delivery will be a welcome boost for Potter. Across the last five matches in all competitions, the only midfielder to register an assist was Alvarez in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. Soucek, Soler, Irving, Rodriguez, Paqueta, Alvarez and Orford have a combined total of three assists this season.
West Ham have scored seven goals from set pieces this season, the fourth-highest in the league. One of Ward-Prowse’s main attributes is his delivery from corners. This delivery means their already impressive stats from set-pieces could yet improve with Ward-Prowse’s return. In the 2-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April, he scored an ‘olimpico’ (direct from a corner). It is a goal not even Lionel Messi, widely recognised as the greatest player of all time, has scored.
Ward-Prowse bends one in from the corner 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Sn4UBzHfSp
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 6, 2024
West Ham are yet to play since Ward-Prowse’s return on February 2 given their early exit from the FA Cup. He could yet be involved when the east London side take on Brentford this Saturday.
Ward-Prowse was not first-choice under Nuno (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Ward-Prowse, whose deal expires in the summer of 2027, will aim to be a key influence on and off the field. In July, The Athletic interviewed the midfielder and he outlined his plans for the season. Given his struggles at Forest, the midfielder intends to serve a reminder of his qualities.
“Even though the last few months for me personally haven’t been the most productive as I would have liked on the pitch, I feel as though the whole experience off it and the sort of different tests that I’ve had to endure have sort of benefited me now,” he told West Ham’s website. “I think I’ll look back on the experience and I’ll be grateful for it. It’s really lit a fire in me to go out and prove people wrong.
“I think I’m the sort of character that wants to play every minute of every game, so to have had that brief period in the first half of the season where I haven’t, it’s tested those parts of my character again from when I was younger and relit that fire inside of me and enter a new chapter under the head coach with a little bit more optimism.”
(Top photo: Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)
