Nuno Espirito Santo has his main man Crysencio Summerville back as he rings the changes for West Ham’s crunch must-win clash with Wolves.
West Ham welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to the London Stadium on Friday night and the stakes have rarely been higher.
With seven games left, the Hammers know they will likely need to win at least three – if not four – of them to stay in the Premier League.
Facing basement boys Wolves at home represents Nuno Espirito Santo’s most obvious chance at ticking one of those victories off – even if Rob Edwards’ side have been much-improved and are playing without pressure given their relegation was all but sealed months ago.
Summerville back for West Ham as one of six changes vs Wolves
The good news for Hammers fans is that Nuno is set to go on the attack against Wolves.
The Portuguese has done a decent job getting West Ham into a position where they have a chance of survival.
Nuno’s squad is certainly STRONGER three months on! ⚒️ 🆚 🐺
Who has been the biggest upgrade? Disasi for Kilman surely…
West Ham v Wolves XI on January 3rd, 2006
But Nuno has been criticised for perceived negative tactics and some of his team selections at times.
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A case in point was West Ham’s FA Cup quarter-final against Leeds where a raft of players were not in the squad, ultimately costing the Hammers a trip to Wembley.
Many of those absences were enforced on the manager, though, and there is plenty of good news ahead of the vital meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Crysencio Summerville in action for West Ham
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
All nine of West Ham’s missing players have been back in full training this week.
And the main man Crysencio Summerville is back as Nuno makes six West Ham changes for the must-win Wolves clash.
The task is simple for the Hammers – win the game and they will climb out of the relegation zone, pushing Spurs into the bottom three in the process ahead of their trip to Sunderland on Sunday.
It would also see West Ham go level on points with Nottingham Forest, who face Villa, and one behind Leeds – who have a tough game away at Man United.
Nuno goes on the attack with two strikers for crunch game
Summerville has been in full training all week and will return after three games out against Wolves.
He will go straight back into the starting XI in place of Adama Traore as one of six changes to the side which started against Leeds.
The Hammers have a score to settle… ⚒️ v 🐺
What do YOU want to see in Friday's six-pointer?
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Jose Sa punches clear under pressure from West Ham United's Max Kilman during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United at Molineux on January 3, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England.
Number one goalkeeper Mads Hermansen returns in goal to replace Alphonse Areola, who is also fit after coming off with an injury on Sunday.
Nuno defended West Ham fans who booed Max Kilman after he gave away a penalty on a rare start last time out.
Kilman will be the third change as he drops out with Konstantinos Mavropanos back in the side having followed a 10-day concussion protocol.
Pablo Felipe during West Ham's Premier League game against Tottenham.
Photo by Izzy Poles – AMA/Getty Images
Change four will see Aaron Wan-Bissaka back in the starting XI after his failure to return in time from Congo duty for the FA Cup quarter-final.
Wan-Bissaka will be starting despite a decent display from Kyle Walker-Peters in his absence.
Changes five and six will come in central midfield and up top with Tomas Soucek and Pablo coming in for Soungoutou Magassa and Freddie Potts.
That will see West Ham line up with Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos playing as the second striker while Pablo leads the line.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Wolves:
Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Summerville, Castellanos, Pablo.
There was good news for West Ham’s hopes of survival from two of their rivals overnight.
First there was an ironic boost for West Ham as Spurs suffered a serious new blow.
Then news emerged that Leeds have lost three key players until May while having three other injury doubts on top of that.
The Hammers have risked firing up Wolves with pre-match comments that many fans feel are ill-advised.
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