Konstantinos Mavropanos, West Ham defender. Credit: Imago
Konstantinos Mavropanos, West Ham defender. Credit: Imago
Match

Konstantinos Mavropanos has chance to impress Julen Lopetegui after West Ham United snub

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Konstantinos Mavropanos should see the international break as a way of working his way back into the West Ham starting XI.

The Greek international started the Hammers' first five Premier League games of the season but has recently been dropped to the bench and replaced by Jean-Clair Todibo.

Pairing up with Max Kilman, the newly formed defensive partnership already looks to have created a bond in the backline, performing well together against Brentford and, most recently, in the 4-1 win over Ipswich Town.

With four points from their last two matches, Julen Lopetegui's side entered into the international break while sitting twelfth in the Premier League table, just six points off the top-six spots.

Mavropanos must now take this two-week break from club football to persuade the new manager he has what it takes to earn his spot back in the starting XI. What better way to do that than against England?

Konstantinos Mavropanos to earn back West Ham United starting XI spot?

Greece are set to face England at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 10 October, taking them on in a Nations League clash, and Mavropanos' team could keep their spot at the top of the group.

The Greeks have beaten both Finland and the Republic of Ireland so far, winning 3-0 and 2-0, but Lee Carsley's England side will be a completely different challenge for the defender.

Some fans are eager for Mavropanos to remain on the bench, having once been dubbed a "criminal" for his defending by Martin Keown [Caught Offside], but others will believe he deserves another chance.

His performances have been rather underwhelming so far this term, but with the rest of his team also slacking, it has been incredibly difficult to build momentum at the London Stadium.

If the 26-year-old has a stellar performance against the Three Lions, it will be interesting to see if Lopetegui is swayed by the Greek defender once club football returns.

In other West Ham news, Jamie O'Hara has done a Hammers chant live on air, laughing at what a Tottenham fan said.

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Konstantinos Mavropanos
Julen Lopetegui
Greece
West Ham
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