Mohammed Kudus' early exit during West Ham’s match against Fulham on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, was addressed by the club's new manager, Graham Potter.

The coach revealed that the talented midfielder was enduring a tough time on the pitch, which led to his substitution.

Kudus was taken off just after the hour mark, with the Hammers leading 2-1. Potter opted to bring on Danny Ings in place of the Ghanaian.

However, the decision sparked backlash from West Ham fans, many of whom felt that substituting their star player was unwarranted.

Addressing the criticism, Potter, who was managing his first Premier League game for West Ham, explained his reasoning.

The former Chelsea boss attributed Kudus' substitution to his struggles on the pitch and highlighted the positive impact of Ings.

“We moved Mohammed Kudus a little bit higher up, and he helped us. Danny Ings coming on probably gave us more balance, even though it was a tough call because Mo’s a top, top player. But he was really suffering,” Potter said.

Kudus, now in his second season with West Ham, has faced challenges during the 2024/25 campaign. Unlike his impressive debut season, the 24-year-old has struggled for form, managing just three goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

FKA/EK