West Ham vs Leeds United Preview: Big Calls for Nuno in FA Cup Quarter-Final
This one comes down to the big will he, won’t he question regarding Crysencio Summerville’s inclusion against his former club. The Dutchman has been missing since getting injured in the last round against Brentford but has posted pictures of himself back in training. The latest rumours suggest that Nuno Espírito Santo will not risk Summerville, but we’ll keep you updated as news comes in.
Nuno has hinted at a strong line-up for this fixture and, judging by his comments, I’d expect Mateus Fernandes to start the game. Daniel Farke has also promised to field a strong team, so we could be looking at a dress rehearsal ahead of the final day of the Premier League season.
Two big selection conundrums for Nuno are in attack and central defence. Taty Castellanos struggled against Aston Villa, while Pablo was played out of position on the left and looked awful. The quicker Nuno plays both in their natural roles, the better. In defence, I suspect he’ll go with two recognised centre-backs, and Jean-Clair Todibo could miss out.
Pablo talks to Taty Castellanos before West Ham's game against Chelsea
West Ham striker Pablo could team up with Castellanos in attack
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Match Overview
West Ham United vs Leeds United
FA Cup Quarter-Final
London Stadium
Sunday 5 April 2026, 4:30pm BST
West Ham will be looking to serve up an Easter Sunday treat as we continue our hunt for a fourth FA Cup crown. It’s been a long time coming — the Hammers haven’t reached this stage in a decade — but wins over QPR, Burton Albion and Brentford have put us right back in the mix.
There’s no getting away from the league situation, of course. Survival is still the priority. But a cup run like this can lift the whole place — players, fans, confidence — and Wembley is now just one game away.
Leeds arrive with similar motivation. They sit a few places above us in the table and edged the previous meeting 2-1 at Elland Road earlier this season. That said, they’re hardly free-scoring, and if Dominic Calvert-Lewin misses out, it tilts things slightly in our favour.
Team News
For West Ham, Summerville looks set to miss out despite returning to training. Todibo is touch-and-go after his warm-up injury against Villa, while Łukasz Fabiański remains sidelined.
There’s also a suspension tightrope — Tomáš Souček, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Fernandes are among those who could miss a potential semi-final if booked. Considering AWB played 120 mins for Congo this week followed by a long haul flight, i’d expect him to miss out.
Leeds have their own concerns. Calvert-Lewin is a doubt, while Noah Okafor is back but not fully match sharp. Defender Gabriel Gudmundsson returns from suspension.
Predicted Line-ups
West Ham United (4-4-2)
Position Player
GK Areola
RB Walker-Peters
CB Mavropanos
CB Disasi
LB Diouf
CM Souček
CM Fernandes
LW Traoré
RW Bowen
CF Castellanos
CF Pablo
Key Battle
This could come down to midfield. If Souček and Fernandes can impose themselves physically and win second balls, it gives us the platform to get Jarrod Bowen and Traoré running at Leeds’ defence — if Bowen plays as a right back as we saw against Villa and man City, then it will be a total waste.
Gonzo’s Verdict
I think we can go through.
Leeds are struggling for goals, and if Calvert-Lewin doesn’t make it, that’s a huge blow for them. We’ve got enough quality in attack — especially if Bowen gets space — and this feels like one of those games where we finally click.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Leeds United