By Conor Hogan
**West Ham’s Niclas Füllkrug and Konstantinos Mavropanos are set to be fit after the upcoming international break – but will their first-team spots be in jeopardy upon their return?**
West Ham’s game against Burnley on Saturday is the Hammers’ last before the November international break, and the Irons’ performance against the Clarets could determine the starting XI for the busy December period.
After a hugely impressive team display at home to Newcastle last Sunday, boss Nuno Espírito Santo is expected to field the same team this weekend – or so it is hoped, at least.
The Irons put in an excellent display all over the pitch – the midfield was the obvious standout, but centre-backs Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo also impressed with admirable performances.
Prior to Sunday, the pair had been woeful at the back this season, and when Mavropanos – West Ham’s seemingly only good centre-back (it’s funny how things come around) – came off injured away at Leeds a fortnight ago, there were serious concerns about the Hammers’ back line.
However, after impressing at London Stadium against the Magpies, it is expected that the pair will start again when Burnley come to Stratford on Saturday.
Whether they can keep up their good form remains to be seen, as it would be harsh to keep the Greek defender out of the side, considering he has been one of the Hammers’ most consistent players so far this season.
As for the Irons’ striker department, Callum Wilson was finally given a start under Nuno against his former side on Sunday. Although he didn’t have much sight of goal, his hold-up and link-up play proved effective in transition for the Hammers.
Füllkrug has struggled when given the nod this season – and recent reports of his agent publicly expressing regret over the German’s move to Stratford have done little to help the No. 11’s cause.
Considering how impressive he was in pre-season – and he was excellent – it seemed as though Füllkrug would kick on this season. But, ultimately, the German has gone backwards since the Hammers’ opening-day defeat at Sunderland.
With Tomáš Souček even proving more effective as an improvised centre-forward than the towering German last Sunday, Füllkrug’s place – unlike Mavropanos’ – is in genuine jeopardy. Upon his return, he will likely make some substitute appearances, but he will need to be extremely prolific if he is to remain in the picture under Nuno.