West Ham predicted line-up vs Wolves: two changes made amid big call on £36m man
West Ham face a crunch relegation clash at Molineux on Saturday afternoon
The start to a new year does not get more crucial than this for those of a West Ham United persuasion, as the Hammers face two relegation six-pointers in the space of a few days with their Premier League status becoming increasingly on the line.
While there is, admittedly, still half a season left to be played and a January transfer window in full flow, if West Ham were to lose against relegation rivals Wolves and Nottingham Forest, they would find themselves sunk even further into the mire. Already four points away from safety, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side cannot afford to see that figure increase further.
The Hammers travel to Molineux to face Rob Edwards’ rock-bottom Wolves side on Saturday in what will be viewed by all involved as a must-win. Wanderers are yet to pick up a league victory all season but have shown signs of promise, drawing at Old Trafford last time out and putting in spirited displays in 2-1 defeats at Arsenal and Liverpool.
West Ham will know how crucial three points would be, but the game is by no means a foregone conclusion.
West Ham predicted XI vs Wolves: goalkeeper and defence
Hammers head coach Espirito Santo has seen his squad stretched in recent weeks by injuries and international duty, with both regular starting full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf away at AFCON, with DR Congo and Senegal respectively.
Kyle Walker-Peters and Ollie Scarles have stepped in for the duo in recent weeks, though the latter had a moment to forget at home to Fulham as the 20-year-old made a decisive mistake late on to allow Raul Jimenez to score a damaging winning goal. He bounced back to start in the 2-2 draw with Brighton and will look to keep his place.
Nuno might be forced into a change at centre-back, though, as Jean-Clair Todibo was taken off with an apparent groin injury last time out. The Hammers boss revealed that the £36m man will be assessed ahead of the clash with Wolves, with Konstantinos Mavropanos likely to take the Frenchman’s place in the XI if he is side-lined.
West Ham predicted XI vs Wolves: midfield and attack
West Ham’s midfield has been somewhat revitalised in recent months with the youthful emergence of both Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa, both of whom have made a spot in the starting XI their own.
Alongside them, 21-year-old Mateus Fernandes arrived in a big-money move from Southampton in August and has proven a shrewd acquisition for the Hammers, with two goals and an assist from midfield in 16 Premier League appearances.
Much of the goal-scoring burden will continue to fall on the shoulders of captain Jarrod Bowen, who has bagged five goals for the struggling Hammers this term. He has often started up front alongside Crysencio Summerville, who could return to the starting XI for the crunch trip to Wolves after dropping to the bench for Callum Wilson last time out. Lucas Paqueta will continue behind the pair.
Experienced striker Wilson will hope to make an impact on proceedings even if that comes from the substitutes’ bench, and is set to receive more striking help in the coming days as the Hammers close in on the signings of Pablo from Gil Vicente and £25m Taty Castellanos from Lazio.
Full predicted XI (4-3-1-2): Areola; Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles; Potts, Magassa, Fernandes; Paqueta; Bowen, Summerville.