The return of Ben Johnson from injury could spell the long term end for Ryan Fredericks.
Johnson captained the West Ham Under 23 Premier League 2 side this evening as they beat Norwich U23’s 4-0.
He was joined by Fabian Balbuena, Carlos Sanchez and Xande Silva as the Hammers development remained at the top of division two, three points ahead of Manchester United U23’s as they push for automatic promotion to division 1.
The 20-year-old right-back played the full ninety minutes this evening making one assist.
Johnson joined West Ham at the age of seven. Originally an attacking winger, Johnson was converted to a full-back as his youth career progressed mostly as a right back. He was named on the bench for West Ham’s 2–1 loss at Manchester City on 3 December 2017, whilst still a scholar and he signed his first professional contract when he 
turned 18 in January 2018.
On 27 February 2019, Johnson made his Premier League debut for West Ham, starting at left-back away against Manchester City in a 1–0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
Along with 19-year-old Jeremy Ngakia, Johnson could form one of two right-back options for West Ham for years to come saving the Hammers from dipping into the transfer market for that position.
35-year-old Pablo Zabaleta will be hanging up his boots this summer and with 27-year-old Ryan Fredericks out for six weeks after surgery, he could find it very difficult to regain his first-team starting place after his recovery with Ngakia showing such promise and Johnson waiting for his chance again.
Fredericks could well find himself surplus to requirements with David Moyes willing to cash in in favor of his younger prospects.
Both great prospects would love to see them challenging next year, not sure it’s the end for Fredericks he isn’t a terrible defender and is still relatively young. Ngakia looks solid defensively whether he can add distribution to his game will dictate where his long term future lies, suspect Johnson will be first choice of the two.
Sorry but yet again another silly article,we have 2 youngsters, one has played exellent in his 3 games ,the other has played one game and seems to have a few injurys ever since ,yet you reckon that’s Fredricks done and dusted, ridiculous!!!
Possibly the clue to the piece is in the word “could”.
Because Sean wrote it. Oh and the headline does have the word could in it so we can see your iq levels
I think the same could be said of Cresswell.
His was the only poor performance against Southampton,got caught out for their goal ,didn’t even have the pace to keep up with Shane Long and hacked him down earning a yellow.
Have him on the bench against Arsenal instead of Masuaku or Zabaletta.
Masuako!