Why Nuno Espirito Santo has it spot on with Joel Piroe call as West Ham vs Millwall team news drops

West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo has made some big selection calls against Millwall.

The Hammers are looking to pick up where they left off in the most recent Dockers Derby on Saturday.

Indeed, West Ham defeated Millwall 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground in the most recent clash between these two back in February 2012.

Millwall are currently dealing with a host of injury problems, presenting the Irons with a perfect chance to strike at The Den.

The Carabao Cup clash with Fulham last time out afforded Nuno the opportunity to rest and rotate some of his key players.

One of those was Joel Piroe, but the summer signing from Leeds is back in the Irons' XI for this afternoon's 12:30pm kick-off.

What is the West Ham team Nuno has picked vs Millwall?

Fulham saw the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Manor Solomon, Taty Castellanos and Piroe dropped to the bench.

All four of these Hammers stars still saw action in that one, but it did afford them with some additional recovery time too.

Nuno has gone far more full strength for the trip to Bermondsey though, as he and his side will be desperate to claim the bragging rights once again.

Mads Hermansen replaces Finlay Herrick in goal, with a back four of Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Morato.

In midfield, Mohamadou Kante is replaced by Solomon, whilst Lewis Orford makes way for Jarrod Bowen.

Arne Engels and Divine Mukasa keep their places as West Ham's midfield engine room duo.

In attack, Josh Ajala is axed in favour of Castellanos, whilst Pablo is benched after netting his first Hammers goal against the Cottagers for Piroe.

But why is this decision to bring Piroe in for Pablo, as harsh as it may seem, the right one by Nuno?

What is Piroe's record against Millwall?

Having racked up plenty of Championship experience with Leeds and Swansea City, this is far from Piroe's first rodeo against Millwall.

As detailed via Transfermarkt, prior to this afternoon, the Suriname international has turned out nine times in his career against the Lions.

From those games he's only lost twice, and has found the net three times.

Piroe has also won three of his last four against Millwall, all of which coming during his time with Leeds.

Today is not the day for Nuno to get cute with his team selection, nor is it an opponent to take unnecessary risks against.

So yes, whilst Pablo did score against Fulham, that's still only his first ever goal in Hammers colours, and he lacks big-game experience too.

Piroe certainly doesn't as far as the latter is concerned, and having scored 76 goals in 185 career Championship games, that experience is a vital asset for the Irons.