Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to make one big change to his West Ham side as they take on Manchester United in the Premier League on Thursday night.
West Ham go into the Premier League clash with Man United at Old Trafford off the back of an underwhelming performance in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.
Liverpool were there for the taking, as Sunderland have proved yet again since, but the Hammers could not even muster a shot on target.
Now West Ham face a Man United side welcoming back arguably their best player in Mateus Cunha after slipping back into the relegation zone.
Paqueta gives Nuno a big West Ham headache
The Hammers were fortunate each of their four main rivals for the drop also lost at the weekend.
But Forest and Leeds both secured midweek wins to dump West Ham back into the bottom three amid a daunting run of fixtures, which continues with the Red Devils.
Manchester United turned their choppy form around by coming from behind to record a 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace over the weekend.
The fixtures come thick and fast over the Christmas period and it is often be where Premier League titles and relegations are ultimately decided.
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West Ham United's XI from the 2007 win at Manchester United
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After Man United, West Ham go to Brighton then face in-form Aston Villa and a trip to Man City.
So Man United arguably represents the easiest of that clutch of matches for the Hammers.
Ruben Amorim would have been licking his lips at West Ham’s dismal team news ahead of the match.
Not only are both Crysencio Summerville and Lucas Paqueta missing the game but Jarrod Bowen is enduring perhaps his worst spell of form since joining the club nearly six years ago.
Paqueta’s self-inflicted suspension means Nuno Espirito Santo has some big calls to make.
And we predict Nuno will make one big West Ham change for Man United as a hero comes in from the cold.
Nuno makes one big West Ham change for Man United
Red Devils ace Cunha has been a huge hit at Old Trafford and returns following concussion protocol.
That will give Man United a huge boost as they look to go level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
On the flip side West Ham know they must win by two goals in order to climb back out of the relegation zone and above Leeds after the Elland Road outfit’s shock 3-1 victory over Chelsea.
Paqueta’s utterly selfish sending off against Liverpool – on the day West Ham were honouring their greatest ever player Billy Bonds – has not gone down well with fans.
The Brazilian has been slammed by fans, forcing Nuno to defend the so-called playmaker, who has not provided a single assist for West Ham in over 50 appearances.
Tomas Soucek celebrates during West Ham United v Newcastle United - Premier League
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
When Paqueta was suspended for the Bournemouth game, Nuno described him as ‘irreplaceable’.
Now it is Nuno’s job to try and manage that situation in the best way possible for the team.
We think the head coach will go with the same team which started against Liverpool.
But coming in for Paqueta will be Hammers hero Tomas Soucek.
The ever-reliable Czech midfielder has been relegated to a bench role of late, often coming on as an auxiliary striker with mixed results.
Hero Soucek comes in from the cold for West Ham at Man United
That should mean a very youthful defensive midfield shield of Soungoutou Magassa and Freddie Potts with Soucek ahead of them.
Mateus Fernandes, West Ham’s best player of late alongside Alphonse Areola, will move further forward to take Paqueta’s place.
Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo look set to continue in defence after Max Kilman was dropped.
Word from club insiders such as ExWHUemployee is that Nuno will bring a youthful bench of rising Academy stars to Old Trafford.
So West Ham could be in line to hand out some debuts at the Theatre of Dreams.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Man United:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf, Potts, Magassa, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Wilson.
Where do you think West Ham would be right now if they had hired Ruben Amorim in 2024?
“Obviously my trip was a mistake. The timing was completely wrong. It didn’t seem right at the time.
“It was wrong, especially when I’m so demanding with my players and always the first to say that each one’s actions can overpower the team. I have already removed players from the squad for much less.
“It was my mistake, I have to accept it and live with it.”
– Ruben Amorim on holding talks with West Ham while still Sporting coach, April 2024
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