David Moyes to make 9 changes, Paqueta returns – West Ham United predicted XI v FCSB
West Ham head to Bucharest in Romania for their final group stage game of the Europa Conference League against FCSB on Thursday night.
The Hammers have so far won five of five games in Europe this season and clinched their spot in the last 16 in 2023 when they beat Silkeborg at the London Stadium last week to cement themselves as group winners.
Now David Moyes has the chance to give his fringe players another run out while resting his first-team regulars ahead of the weekend Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday.
One player set for a potential extended run in the team is goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who has started every European game so far this season and could be in contention for a Premier League game too with Lukasz Fabianski injured.
In defence Nayef Aguerd should come back into contention after finally making his debut last week, although Moyes is still unsure that he ihttps://www.claretandhugh.info/hammers-injury-updat/s ready for the Premier League.
He’ll likely start once again, alongside Craig Dawson who recently returned from injury himself and started against Manchester United at the weekend with a solid performance.
Ben Johnson could move away from the third centre-back role he’s been played in and move to his more natural full-back role here on the right, while summer signing Emerson Palmieri gets the nod at left-back ahead of Aaron Cresswell.
Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek are almost certain to be rested once again in the heart of midfield, so Conor Coventry should get another rare opportunity to start alongside Flynn Downes in his natural position slightly deeper.
Lucas Paqueta has been missing for the last four games with a shoulder injury, but it’s believed he is “very close” to a return to action and could get some minutes in his legs here to get back up to speed.
He would fill the number ten position once again, meaning the winger positions are open for players to fill.
Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini are the most likely to fill them, with Jarrod Bowen likely to be rested for this dead rubber game and Maxwel Cornet still injured after suffering a setback in training recently.
Up front Michail Antonio should be given the nod to lead the line, with Gianluca Scamacca preferred in the Premier League.
Predicted West Ham XI v FCSB: Areola; Johnson, Aguerd, Dawson, Emerson; Downes, Coventry; Fornals, Paqueta, Lanzini; Antonio