Harry Watkinson
Keane Lewis-Potter… what’s all the fuss about?
Keane Lewis-Potter has been attracting a LOT of interest from Premier League clubs this summer, with the likes of West Ham and Brentford battling for this signature… but why is the Hull City winger so in demand?
This article breaks down how the 21-year-old has progressed in his career so far, analysing his stats from his last three seasons as a professional.
He’s already performed well in both League One and the Championship, but is he ready for that big jump into the Premier League?
2019-20 (Championship)
After a very brief loan spell with non-league side Bradford AFC, Keane Lewis-Potter made his first appearance for Hull in November 2019 and instantly caught the attention of the fans with his quick feet and express pace. In that month, he scored his first goal and he has been loved by the Hull faithful ever since.
He made 21 appearances in total, although admittedly the vast majority of them were 10-minute outings coming off the bench, so he didn’t get that many chances to make an impact but managed to score two goals in total. He wasn’t scared of taking shots on either, showing signs that he could be a prolific goal scorer in future.
He truly was one of the few positives in an abysmal season for Hull. They ultimately finished dead last in the Championship and let’s not forget they were in the Premier League just three years previously. But for Lewis-Potter, it represented a chance to become a regular in the side in League One.
Played: 21
Assists: 1
Pass Percentage: 71.3%
Shots per game: 0.5
Goals: 2
Minutes played: 490’
Minutes per goal: 245’
Average match rating: 6.19
2020-21 (League One)
As mentioned, Lewis-Potter’s breakthrough season came in League One in 2020-21 and it’s fair to say he stood out. He started most games that he was fit to play and fully seized the opportunity. With 13 goals in 43 league games, he finished the season as the league’s 16th top scorer – a fantastic achievement for a winger playing regularly for the first time.
Lewis-Potter’s scoring and dazzling performances helped Hull to lift the League One title and bounce back to the Championship at the first opportunity. You could argue he was playing in the best team in the league so it’s not particularly impressive, but those goals didn’t finish themselves. Scoring a goal once every 231 minutes is something that many Premier League clubs would be grateful to have.
He also began shooting in matches, even more, averaging 2.2 shots on target per game for Hull. So, even if he didn’t score, he was always a threat to the opposition. As well as his goals, he helped the team by chipping in with five assists across the campaign. He was undoubtedly one of Hull’s biggest assets in 2020-21.
Played: 51
Assists: 5
Pass Percentage: 74%
Shots per game: 2.2
Goals: 15
Minutes played: 3478’
Minutes per goal: 231’
Average match rating: 6.85
2021-22 (Championship)
Despite Hull fans already loving Lewis-Potter, the question was raised at the beginning of the 2021-22 season whether he would be able to step up to the Championship and replicate the good form he showed in League One; but he was certainly more than capable of doing so.
Despite the big jump, he continued playing regularly and most importantly, kept shooting. He once again averaged 2.2 shots per game showing he was a serious goal threat regardless of what division he was playing in. He netted 12 goals in 46 league matches which, again, for his first season playing regularly in the Championship is extremely impressive.
One key thing that Lewis-Potter has improved every season is his pass accuracy and ability to keep possession, with a 78% pass success rate. He does have a bit of a reputation for being wasteful on the ball, but if he continues to improve this stat as his career progresses then he will turn into a top-quality player.
Deservedly, Lewis-Potter was awarded three player of the season awards for Hull in 2021-22: Player’s player of the season, fan’s player of the season and manager’s player of the season, showing how popular he is in East Yorkshire.
His good performances also earned him his first call-up to the England U21s squad, where his good performances have caught the eye of Premier League clubs even more. He played four matches for the young Lions in June, scoring his first international goal against Kosovo.
Goalscoring wingers seem to be all the rage in the Premier League at the moment; just think of the likes of Son, Salah, Sterling and Saka… so Lewis-Potter has the potential to be very successful in the English topflight if given plenty of chances to start matches. The only question that remains is, who will pay Hull the big bucks to sign him?
Played: 47
Assists: 4
Pass Percentage: 78%
Shots per game: 2.2
Goals: 13
Minutes played: 4201’
Minutes per goal: 323’
Average match rating: 6.82
