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Ryan Fredericks, West Ham’s undisputed right-back

By Adam Smith

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Ryan Fredericks of West Ham United is chased by Emerson of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on April 08, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Ryan Fredericks of West Ham United is chased by Emerson of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on April 08, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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West Ham’s season is just about here, and while there are a few positions that have player competition, right-back isn’t one of them. That is because Ryan Fredericks is the Hammers’ undisputed right-back.

Does Mark Noble fit into the starting XI? Is Michail Antonio a striker? Does Reid or Ogbonna steal the third choice centre-back spot? A lot of questions surround the West Ham team, but at right-back it’s seemingly all Ryan Fredericks.

Last season’s first signing on a free, Fredericks was touted as a speedy, get-forward type of fullback that played an integral role in Fulham’s promotion season back to the Premier League. He was a target of the Board, David Moyes, and Manuel Pellegrini, and ultimately signed with West Ham on a solidly lucrative offer for the then 25-year-old defender.

A disastrous team start and a surprisingly solid bit of form from Pablo Zabaleta saw Fredericks relegated to the bench last season after a 0-4 start to the season for the Hammers. He wouldn’t see the pitch again until entering a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield for just 17 minutes late in the game where he picked up a substantial ankle injury.

This injury kept him out of the team for eleven matches. He would return to the first team to end the season extremely strong, despite being forced from the season finale with a slight injury again.

Pablo Zabaleta has a role on this team next season as a leader, but it’s youngster Ben Johnson who will push Fredericks for time at right-back. Johnson’s ascension to the first team has been meteoric, but Frederick’s speed and overlap play on the right-wing has him above Johnson by a solid amount heading into the season.

Next. West Ham's latest transfer links as the window nears it's end. dark

Expectations for the English fullback are lofty this season. If Fredericks isn’t on the scoresheet a lot more I would consider his season questionable, especially with a towering target like Sebastien Haller now at striker. He certainly needs to work on his crossing, but I have every bit of faith that Fredericks will be a solid and reliable starter for the Hammers… should he stay healthy.