The last thing West Ham United needed, without Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo for the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Leeds, was to see Axel Disasi hobbling around with a grimace on his face.
While Nuno was forced to replace Alphonse Areola with Finlay Herrick in the dying embers of extra time, it is understood that star centre-back Axel Disasi twinged his hamstring shortly after converting that fabulous Adama Traore cross in the most thrilling of last-eight ties.
Konstantinos Mavropanos was already unavailable following a head injury he suffered on Greece duty over the international break. West Ham United were without Jean-Clair Todibo as well.
Nuno has a few selection dilemmas before Wolves arrive on Friday
Who would you pick in the manager's shoes?
Pick your winners from these selection debates!
The Frenchman picked up an issue of his own in the warm up before last month’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
Did you know that no Premier League side has fielded two teenagers together at centre-half since 19-year-old duo Matthew Bates and David Wheater started for Middlesbrough a 1-0 defeat by Fulham on the final day of the 2005/06 season?
Ahead of Friday’s make-or-break encounter with Wolves, the prospect of Ezra Mayers partnering Airidas Golambeckis felt at least partially, briefly realistic.
Fortunately, Hammers News can now ease concerns over the respective fitness of Mavropanos, Todibo and Disasi.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
West Ham United should have Axel Disasi available for Wolves
Brentford's Romelle Donovan and West Ham United's Ezra Mayers during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between West Ham United and Brentford
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
It is understood that both Mavropanos and Todibo will be fit to face Wolves in three days time. Ditto Disasi, while Areola and Adama Traore were subbed off against Leeds as a precaution.
It paints a rather bleak picture, meanwhile, that many would prefer to see a Nuno play a largely untested teenager, or moonlight Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Soungoutou Magassa as a centre-half, rather than hand Max Kilman his first Premier League start in three months.
Nuno Espirito Santo cannot rely on Max Kilman
The stats show that West Ham lose more games and concede more goals with Kilman at the heart of their backline. The former Wolves captain was controversially booed by sections of the home support after gifting Leeds their second goal from the penalty spot on Sunday.
And while most level-headed fans would agree this was a step too far – talk about kicking a man when he’s down – the fact is that Kilman feels like an accident waiting to happen whenever he steps onto the pitch.
How do you feel about fans booing Max Kilman? 😳
Like a glass of water wobbling ominously next to an electrical socket, or a tea towel placed that little bit too close to the hob.
When Steve McClaren selected Bates alongside Wheater during that trip to Craven Cottage two decades ago, he did so with the intention of giving the next generation of homegrown talents a chance on the final day of the season.
If Nuno was forced to hand Mayers or U21 captain Golambeckis a first league start against Wolves, it would have been a decision very much borne out of necessity rather than desire.
Fortunately, with Disasi, Todibo and Mavropanos likely to be passed fit, things are not quite this drastic yet.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox