Divin Mubama could face brutal West Ham United half-time axe after woeful first half v Backa Topola
West Ham manager David Moyes had a huge decision to make regarding the final third of his starting XI for the club’s clash with Backa Topola.
The Hammers are taking on the Serbian outfit in a Europa League group stage meeting on Thursday (30 November), eager to secure qualification to the knockout rounds.
But they have had to get on with things without senior stars Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio, who are currently out injured following their issues sustained during the recent international break.
And with those injury issues going forward, Moyes decided to hand a rare start to young striker Divin Mubama, leaving veteran Danny Ings on the bench.
But the 19-year-old had a half to forget, with Mubama touching the ball just 12 times, fewer than any other player on the pitch [Sofascore], including goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Moreover, the striker lost possession of the ball five times and conceded two fouls, and also failed to win his one attempted aerial duel (0%).
With Ings waiting in the wings, it may not be surprising at all to see Moyes switch things up at half-time and bring on the former Burnley and Southampton man.
The Hammers headed to Serbia in the knowledge that a victory would secure a spot in the next round, or indeed if Olympiacos did not beat SC Freiburg.
The East London club do, of course, have another shot of securing that coveted place in the knockout stages when they host the German outfit at the London Stadium next month.
But Moyes will be eager to get it over and done with against Backa Topola, particularly given the very busy fixture list that the Hammers will go through between now and Christmas.
As well as the aforementioned test with Freiburg in the Europa League group stages, West Ham also have plenty of tough Premier League clashes coming up, along with a huge League Cup quarter-final meeting with Liverpool.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers want to sign a Ukraine sensation in 2024, with an exit for the player “widely expected.”