Danny Ings axed as Jarrod Bowen decision made – West Ham United predicted XI v Sheffield United
West Ham will be desperate to get back to winning ways when they take on Sheffield United in Premier League action.
The Hammers travel to Sheffield on Sunday (21 January) having failed to win any of their last three matches in all competitions.
That miserable run includes a 0-0 draw against Brighton and a 1-1 draw against Bristol City, as well as a 1-0 defeat to the latter.
Given that it was an FA Cup match against lower-league opposition last time out, David Moyes is expected to make plenty of changes for the meeting with the Blades.
Alphonse Areola is expected to come in for Lukasz Fabianski in goal, while Vladimir Coufal and Emerson are likely to continue at right-back and left-back respectively.
And given the real lack of options Moyes has going forward, the boss could once again opt for a back five, much like he did against Bristol City.
That could see Kurt Zouma start once more in central defence, this time alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos and Angelo Ogbonna. Aaron Cresswell would drop out for Ogbonna in this instance, while Nayef Aguerd remains away on international duty.
James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek are expected to start once more in midfield, and it is now where Moyes faces a huge struggle, with the manager recently relaying injury concerns about Edson Alvarez and Pablo Fornals [Roshane Thomas, 16 January].
Said Benrahma will drop out after his red card against Bristol City, although he may not have made the cut anyway if available, with the Hammers willing to let the winger leave on loan this month amid interest from Marseille [Jack Rosser, 16 January].
Fellow winger Mohammed Kudus is on international duty, meaning Moyes could be forced to hand another start to outcast Maxwel Cornet.
According to The Standard (18 January), Lucas Paqueta remains out with injury, but Bowen could return, with the latter expected to start if fit.
And that leaves a vacant striker role, which could be filled by youngster Divin Mubama instead of Danny Ings, even with the former’s West Ham future up in the air.
In other West Ham news, clubs are queuing up to sign a Hammers international on loan after his recent appearance in the FA Cup.
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