David Moyes makes Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus fitness calls – confirmed West Ham United XI v Burnley
David Moyes has named his starting line-up for Saturday’s (25 November) Premier League meeting between Burnley and West Ham at Turf Moor.
The Hammers showed one change from their 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest prior to the international break, as confirmed by the club’s official Twitter account [25 November].
Michail Antonio was ruled out of the match with an injury sustained on international duty, while Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus were both doubtful.
Kudus was deemed fit enough to start in Lancashire, but there was no Bowen in the matchday squad as he dropped out in the only alteration.
That meant a rare start for Danny Ings – a first of the Premier League season, in fact – against his former club in a show of faith from Moyes.
In many ways, the decision to bring in Ings, who cost the Hammers £15million to sign from Aston Villa in February [Sky Sports], exposes just how short United are of options in that centre-forward position.
Bowen has filled in there at times this season given Antonio’s lack of form and fitness, but his own absence means Ings is next in line.
Beyond Ings, Divin Mubama is Moyes’ only other option, and the Scotsman clearly does not want to turn to him just yet, with the untested teenager named among the substitutes.
It perhaps comes as little surprise that West Ham have been linked with Ajax attacker Steven Bergwijn [De Telegraaf], although even he is not an out-and-out striker as such.
For now, Moyes just needs to keep ploughing along with the players he has available and hope the board back him come the January transfer window.
If not, United can surely kiss farewell to competing for the European spots if Ings is the go-to man to lead the line in times of need.
In other West Ham news, a Moyes favourite must now accept his time at London Stadium is probably up following a development on Friday (24 November).