Nuno has a decision to make on his striker.placeholder image
Nuno has a decision to make on his striker. | Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo has hinted as a possibly bold team selection decision when Brentford visit the London Stadium on Monday evening.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo looks for his first win since arriving at the London Stadium when Brentford visit on Monday night, in front of a home crowd set to be impacted by fan protests.
There have been some small signs of improvement since the former Nottingham Forest boss was appointed but his Hammers side have managed just one goal in two fixtures against Everton and Arsenal. Nuno must add potency and find it fast.
He is not helped by an injury to Niclas Fullkrug - not that the German has ever been prolific in a West Ham shirt - which leaves Nuno choosing between Callum Wilson and Callum Marshall to lead the line. Given Wilson’s experience, that may appear an obvious decision, but the manager is relishing the competition.
Speaking about the two players in his pre-match press conference, he said: “It is a healthy fight for the position. They're different players, but it's a good situation.”
Hype builds around West Ham youngster
The competition between the two players for the berth sparked to life against Arsenal when Nuno opted for 20-year-old Marshall from the bench rather than Wilson. That was the youngster’s first Premier League outing.
There’s a feeling that Marshall could be the real deal. The striker won the Huddersfield Town Player of the Year Award in League One last season for a loan spell that saw him pick up nine goals and three assists.
Marshall was away on international duty with Northern Ireland over the break and manager Martin O’Neill reflected on his rise. He told BBC Sport: “There’s a lot going on there for a young player to deal with but Callum’s very focused, very driven and trains extremely hard and wants to do well. [He] is impatient, which you expect in young players as well. And I’m delighted. Callum always shows up well in the camp.
“It’s always difficult. If you look around the Premier League, there are not many 20-year-old number nines getting loads of minutes. “So, it’s a big challenge for him to get that, and it was very positive to see Nuno giving him those minutes so early in his tenure at the club.”
Nuno must make ‘boring’ team selection decision v Brentford
While there’s plenty to get excited about around Marshall, it feels unwise for Nuno to give him a first start against Brentford with West Ham desperate for three points. While that sort of caution to the wind decision is exciting, Nuno must take a perhaps more boring route and opt for Wilson.
While the former Newcastle United man may not have the dynamism or youthful fearlessness of Marshall, he knows where the back of the net it. The striker has 89 Premier League goals to his name and has proven that, when fit, he can score.
If there’s a squirming ball across the Brentford box in the early minutes, there is surely no better West Ham option that Wilson to stick it in the back of the net. Marshall can add impact from the bench, but the ex Magpies man is a shoo-in starter.
In other news, Pundit explains what could make David Sullivan sell West Ham.
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