The midfielder found game-time hard to come by at Forest but now he’s hoping to convince Graham Potter in a way he couldn’t Nuno
James Ward-Prowse says his failed loan at Nottingham Forest has ‘really lit a fire in me to go out and prove people wrong’.
The 30-year-old joined the Reds in the summer, on what was supposed to be a season-long loan. However, he is now back with parent club West Ham having had that arrangement terminated after just five Premier League starts.
Ward-Prowse was featured at the start of the campaign but slid down the pecking order with Ryan Yates, Nicolas Dominguez and Elliot Anderson dominating game-time, even with Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare out injured.
The return of the duo has left the former Southampton man surplus to requirements, with new Hammers boss Graham Potter demanding that he demonstrate his abilities in a way that Nuno Espirito Santo was unable to do.
Ward-Prowse revealed to the West Ham website that his tenure at the City Ground had not been easy. “It’s great to be back! Obviously it was a strange feeling and situation to leave the club in the first place, but that’s football,” he said.
“Even if the last few months for me personally haven’t been as productive on the pitch as I would have liked, I believe that the overall experience off the pitch, as well as the various tests that I’ve had to go through, have now helped me.
“And I believe I will reflect on the experience and be grateful for it. It’s really inspired me to go out and prove them incorrect.
“I simply want to go back on the pitch. I believe I am the type of character who wants to play every minute of every game.
“That’s what I’ve been used to over the years, 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 from when I was younger and reignited that fire inside of me to get out there and play again, and to start a new chapter under the new head coach with a little more optimism.
“When a new head coach takes over, everyone starts from zero. There’s a clean slate. So especially for me coming back, it’s a fresh opportunity.
“Football is a challenging environment at times. But I’ve always tried to be honest with myself about who I am and not alter. And, regardless of your football circumstances, the team comes first.
“Whether you’re playing or not, I’ve learned in the last few months, particularly, that you have to be good around the place, even if you’re not playing, because opportunities will arise at some point and you must be prepared to seize them.
“My influence should help in the locker room, but more importantly, I want to be out there and influence games.
“I don’t feel physically changed. I feel mentally stronger, and I believe I’m ready to have an effect on the club for many years to come.”
Nuno revealed why Ward-Prowse was transferred back to West Ham. “It was extremely difficult because James had been a huge assistance to us since his arrival. I got the opportunity to speak with him and explain that it was not an easy situation, and that every game he played he assisted 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 that the decision was for the best for all parties.”
