What came next was a goal of such quality and supreme self-confidence from a man who, on this evidence, could yet justify his \u00a327 million price-tag.<\/p>\n
Kyle Walker-Peters, making his West Ham United<\/a> debut at right-back, said it best.<\/p>\n Fullkrug\u2019s finish at Soldier Field was \u2018ridiculous\u2019<\/a>, in the most positive sense. He may be a natural right-footer but, as first Paris Saint-Germain and now Everton have found out, give him time and space on his left at your peril.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Even before Fullkrug left Mark Travers helpless in the Everton goal, the watching Robbie Earle noticed a big difference in the 32-year-old targetman.<\/p>\n Earle, speaking from his position in the Sky Sports<\/a> commentary gantry, kept a close eye on Fullkrug as Graham Potter put him through his paces in those pre-match training sessions. <\/p>\n The eye-catching intensity he demonstrated in practice, meanwhile, translated very effectively when he replaced the hard-working Callum Marshall at half-time in Chicago. <\/p>\n \u201c[Fullkrug] looked leaner, sharper and focused in some of the drills they did,\u201d says Earle, scorer of 45 Premier League goals for Wimbledon in the 1990s. <\/p>\n \u201cThis could be a big season for Fullkrug.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Speaking to the club\u2019s official website<\/a> following that loss to Manchester United in New Jersey on Saturday, Fullkrug stated that he was in a \u2018really good place\u2019 again following an injury-hit 2024\/25 campaign during which he was limited to just six league starts.<\/p>\n All that work appears to be paying off.<\/p>\n In addition to his brilliantly-taken goal, there were a few unexpected bursts of pace against Everton. It appears that Fullkrug, pigeonholed perhaps unfairly as something of a throwback number nine, is a lot more athletic than his image would suggest.<\/p>\n \u201c[It\u2019s difficult] when you pick up injuries and niggles, at a new club, in a new country,\u201d adds Earle. \u201cBut he\u2019s had the chance to get a holiday, get himself in shape.\u201d<\/p>\n Fullkrug \u2018positive\u2019 as he singles out West Ham teammates for praise in Chicago<\/p>\n On a day when Callum Marshall, Freddie Potts and Luis Guilherme impressed<\/a> \u2013 the fringe players making their mark on the summer tour \u2013 Fullkrug looked like a man champing at the bit and desperate to silence his critics once and for all.<\/p>\n![\"Niclas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2227783637-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Patrick McDermott\/Getty ImagesRobbie Earle highlights big Niclas Fullkrug change as West Ham United beat Everton<\/p>\n