Last night’s [Claret and Hugh](https://www.claretandhugh.info/ominous-silence-suggests-player-absence-is-long-term-west-ham-news/) article concerning the deathly silence over defender Konstantinos Mavropanos’ hamstring injury has, sadly, been proven correct as the news seeped out from the club: The Greek centre-back has a confirmed hamstring tear after being trolleyed off against Brentford.
[Givemesport.com](https://www.givemesport.com/west-ham-united-latest-news-suffer-blow-mavropanos-ruled-out-up-to-six-weeks/) confirmed Mavropanos would be absent for a crucial period as West Ham seek to row back from their relegation zone crisis:
_“West Ham United head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has been hit by another blow with key defender Konstantinos Mavropanos ruled out for up to six weeks. The Hammers’ Greek centre-back suffered a hamstring injury during last week’s home defeat by Brentford. He had to be taken off on a medi-cart at the London Stadium and is now set for at least a month on the sidelines”_
Bad news for the player. But perhaps this can be a pivotal moment for Espírito Santo’s fortunes: As a result of this latest injury crisis he could well seek a change of defensive shape, in order to mitigate the absence of his one better-performing centre back.
_Bad news for West Ham’s centre back could force a positive change upon West Ham_
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Todibo and Kilman have proven themselves an unreliable pairing – with a dismal performance against Leeds just the latest in West Ham’s defensive capitulations – so the ‘three at the back’ option involving Kilman along with Wan-Bissaka a right sided CB and Ollie Scarles (or Igor Julio) as part of a trio could well prove West Ham’s salvation.
We know the Hammers trialled this formation during the international break: It has the advantage of using Diouf in a more advanced position as a wing-back in a more offensive role – as the young Senegalese has proven, he’s a pretty potent weapon going forward and this could play to his strengths.
Kyle Walker Peters on the right could complete the wing back – centre back deployment.
Just save us from Soucek and Irving as the midfield double pivot of doom, please Nuno. Five days to fix the defence before the Magpies’ clash, so all eyes will be on the Friday ‘Rush Green training video’ for clues as to West Ham’s likely set-up shape.