By Conor Hogan
**Konstantinos Mavropanos looks set to return to the West Ham squad this weekend, as the Hammers face Liverpool at London Stadium.**
The Greek international sustained a thigh injury away at Leeds last month and has been sidelined since. However, he was spotted training with the first team in a recent video on West Ham’s YouTube channel, suggesting his comeback is imminent.
But when Mavropanos is back to full fitness, will he be handed his place straight back in the starting XI — or will manager Nuno Espírito Santo make him earn it?
The Hammers have had an excellent November so far, collecting seven points from a possible nine and improving their goal difference by four. Much of that has stemmed from increased defensive solidity; Nuno’s side have looked far more organised at the back in recent weeks.
One of the standout performers has been centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, who has delivered three excellent displays in Mavropanos’ absence. His partner Max Kilman has also shown signs of improvement, but the Englishman has arguably cost the Hammers goals against both Burnley and Bournemouth.
Given that, prior to November, Mavropanos seemed to be the only West Ham centre-back capable of defending with any consistency, it would be harsh to overlook the 27-year-old once he is fully fit.
Kilman is still failing to reach the required standard, and with Todibo thriving in a new left centre-back role, a partnership of the Frenchman and Mavropanos could prove a winning combination.
The former Arsenal defender has played very little under Nuno, and within a more resolute West Ham unit, we may finally see the best of him. He has already shown improvement on last season’s performances.
However, alongside death and taxes, Max Kilman starting for West Ham appears to be one of life’s inevitabilities. Under three different managers, the 28-year-old has been the first name on the teamsheet regardless of form. Perhaps Nuno should break that trend and give Mavropanos — or even Igor Julio — a run in the side.
I’m not suggesting Nuno throws Mavropanos straight back in against the Reds on Sunday, but once he is fully fit, he has earned the right to start based on his solid performances in an otherwise abysmal West Ham defence earlier this season.