West Ham predicted XI vs Portsmouth: Exit-linked star starts as Ward-Prowse gets nod
West Ham United are set to open their campaign against Portsmouth on Saturday.
Pompey will be welcomed to the London Stadium as the season begins with the first round of the Carabao Cup.
The fixture will kickstart the year for the first time after being moved from mid-week to Saturday afternoon.
It will serve as a perfect time for Nuno Espirito Santo to get a look at his Hammers side in a competitive outing.
Having made a general lack of signings to this point, there will be a familiar feel to the side.
A clash with Portsmouth will certainly be an interesting one ahead of West Ham's return to the Championship.
Konstantinos Mavropanos could start vs Portsmouth
There are always going to be questions over who is actually available to feature at this stage of the transfer window.
There have been plenty of links away for Konstantinos Mavropanos, but he is yet to truly move close to a departure.
That could see him feature at the heart of defence as Max Kilman could also be set for a start.
The duo could be joined by Mads Hermansen, while Ollie Scarles and Kyle Walker-Peters could get the nod at full-back.
Mohamadou Kante could feature just ahead of the back four as he looks to prove himself under Nuno.
James Ward-Prowse could complete West Ham comeback
The Frenchman could sit slightly deeper in the middle of the park to potentially hand James Ward-Prowse a licence to get further forward.
The Englishman was banished under Nuno last season, but could be set to get a chance this time around.
The wide areas come with one dilemma and one obvious choice.
Jarrod Bowen feels like a dead cert to start, as always, while there is a decision to be made on the left flank.
Keiber Lamadrid could get the nod ahead of Maxwel Cornet as he could have a point to prove.
They could all be working to supply a front two that was utilised regularly last campaign with Pablo and Taty Castellanos.
The pairing could prove to be devastating in the second tier and could get their year going in the Carabao Cup.