West Ham United defender Ryan Fredericks has admitted that he owes Tottenham Hotspur a token of gratitude for converting him from a promising, but inconsistent winger, to a Premier League level full-back.
Fredericks, who is a product of the Spurs academy, joined the Hammers on a free transfer in the summer following his stellar campaign with Fulham in the Championship last season.
The 26-year-old initially started off as a winger, but he was eventually converted into an attacking full-back under the guidance of the former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood, during his time in charge of the Under-21s at White Hart Lane.
Fredericks admitted that he still owes a debt of gratitude to Sherwood, Tottenham and all his other coaches, who helped him successfully make the transition and establish himself as a full-back at senior level.
“The coach who converted me from a winger to a full-back was Tim Sherwood, who was managing the Under-21s at the time”, Fredericks told the official West Ham programme ahead of the EFL Cup clash with Spurs.
“I got on well with Tim, he taught me a lot and he pushed me to go out on loan and get that experience, first at Brentford and then at Millwall, where I first played senior football as a full-back.
“I learnt a lot there and had some good coaches, both in the Under-18s – Alex Inglethorpe and John McDermott – and at the time I made the transition to senior football – Tim, Chris Ramsay and Les Ferdinand – who taught me everything I know.
“They converted me from an out-and-out winger into an attacking full-back, which is probably how I’ve made it to the highest level.
“I think if I had stayed as a winger, the way I was playing back in the day, I don’t think I’d have made it to the Premier League, so I owe a lot to that club.
“But obviously I’m a West Ham player now and my affiliations with them are long gone.”
Fredericks scored and registered an assist in his last appearance for the club during West Ham’s thumping 8-0 win over Macclesfield Town in the previous round of the EFL Cup.
