Early West Ham United team news v Lincoln City as Mohammed Kudus decision made
David Moyes has left seven first-team players out of his West Ham squad to face Lincoln City in the EFL Cup, according to the Evening Standard.
United make the trip to Sincil Bank on Wednesday [27 September] for the third-round tie aiming to avoid an upset against their third-tier opponents.
In a report by Malik Ouzia ahead of the game [27 September], it was claimed James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta will all be rested.
Michail Antonio, Alphonse Areola, Emerson Palmieri and captain Kurt Zouma are also among those who will not make the trip north.
However, the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Konstantinos Mavropanos are in line to start for Moyes’ men.
Rotation
Moyes intends to take the cup competitions seriously this season, having learned first hand just how much it means to supporters to lift a trophy.
That said, this trip to League One side Lincoln presents a good opportunity to give fringe players some minutes on the field.
Given it comes between a trip to Liverpool and a home match against Sheffield United in the Premier League, many regulars will need a breather.
Even without those seven aforementioned players, United should – should! – still have more than enough quality to get the job done in Lincolnshire.
Kudus is set to make his second start, having netted twice on his full bow against Backa Topola last week.
Indeed, the starting line-up will be similar to the one named for that Europa League tie, with Mavropanos, Danny Ings, Thilo Kehrer and Pablo Fornals also in contention.
Moyes already has a fairly settled strongest XI, but there are still one or two places up for grabs should any players impress against Lincoln.
In other West Ham news, a telling stat has emerged that suggests Moyes should change the approach he takes with one player.