Crysencio Summerville admits Nuno told him exactly what West Ham’s £30m ace wanted to hear
The performances of Nottingham Forest’s wingers, during last season’s European charge, bodes pretty well for Crysencio Summerville’s fate under new West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Anthony Elanga secured himself a £55 million move to Newcastle, while Callum Hudson-Odoi finally displayed the consistency to match his always hefty potential.
So, it should come as no surprise that Crysencio Summerville, the wideman West Ham United spent £30 million on during the summer of 2024, has been given such a central role in Nuno Espirito Santo’s London Stadium revival project.
Ahead of Monday’s London derby against Brentford, Nuno spoke in glowing terms about Summerville. Particularly, the speed and the aggression he brings to the left-hand flank. That Elanga or Hudson-Odoi-esque penchant for driving at opposition full-backs with every chance he gets.
That, much to the 23-year-old’s relief, is something Nuno is keen to encourage.
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images
West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville reveals Nuno Espirito Santo message
Speaking to the club’s official website, Summerville is understandably loving working alongside a head coach who is determined to make the most of his strengths.
“It’s been great working with him so far,” says the 2023/24 Championship Player of the Year. “He wants me to just do my thing, and be free in the final third while doing the basics well in defence.
“That’s what a winger wants to hear, and that’s what I’m trying to do. He understands my strengths, and he wants me to make the most of those, so that’s what I’ll be looking to do on Monday night!”
Summerville hopes to become a regular West Ham goalscorer, too, after recovering from a hamstring problem which kept him on the sidelines from January to August. So far, his only goal for the club came in that 2-1 victory over Manchester United a year ago.
“It was the first big injury of my career last season, and it was hard,” the Feyenoord academy graduate adds.
“But I was happy with what happened against Nottingham Forest [on my comeback appearance], because it helped show me that all the hard work was worth it, and made me feel like I was really back.
“Since then, I’ve stayed fit, and now I just want to keep improving and have a big impact in the rest of the season. It’s been nearly a year since I scored for the club, so it would be great to get on the scoresheet soon, too.”
Nuno hails Summerville as he weighs up Callum Marshall dilemma
While West Ham will be without Niclas Fullkrug due to yet another injury – Nuno confirmed the Germany international had a ‘scan’ to determine exactly how long he will be out for – Summerville is almost certain to start on the left-hand side against Keith Andrews’ Brentford.
“I think [Summerville has] a lot of talent,” Nuno said during his press conference on Friday. “He has his own specific characteristics. Speed. Very, very aggressive one-on-one.
“What we have to do, as a team, is to give Cry the chance to do his actions with space and time. It is our job to give the ball to our front players in the right positions so they can deliver.”
It remains to be seen whether Callum Wilson or the younger, quicker but less ‘proven’ Callum Marshall gets the nod in Fullkrug’s absence. Whoever starts, they will receive plenty of service if Summerville and captain Jarrod Bowen are on song.
“[Wilson vs Marshall is] a healthy fight for a position,” Nuno added. “Two different players, two different generations, but we count on both of them to try and solve our problems.”
