Thilo Kehrer, Flynn Downes, Maxwel Cornet and Gianluca Scamacca debut – West Ham United predicted XI v Viborg
West Ham will play host to Danish side Viborg in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday, as they look to put the tie to bed in the first leg.
After opening the season with consecutive defeats against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, David Moyes needs to get some momentum going with a big win at the London Stadium against the European minnows.
But what team will Moyes opt for to give some players much needed minutes and use his whole squad? West Ham Zone take a look at the potential side.
In goal Alphonse Areola made his loan move permanent during the summer but so far has still found himself behind Lukasz Fabianski in the pecking order for the Premier League. That should mean he starts the cup games once again.
In defence Moyes is short on options. Thilo Kehrer has signed for the club in time and could make his debut in central defence alongside Kurt Zouma, which comes in perfect time.
That will see Vladimir Coufal continue at right-back but Ben Johnson should move to left-back, filling in for the suspended Aaron Cresswell after his red card against Frankfurt.
In midfield Moyes has gone with the regular duo of Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice so far, but with no other midfielders at the club right now other than Flynn Downes he’s almost certain to give at least one of them a rest.
That will be skipper Rice thanks to suspension following his outburst at officials last season, with his growing importance and influence meaning the club simply can’t afford for him to get injured. Downes should be given his first minutes as a Hammer, with Soucek alongside him.
Further forward there is a chance to refresh the front line too. Maxwel Cornet made his debut as a substitute against Forest but should get the nod from the start here to get some more minutes into his legs.
There’s also room for Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini to start and rotate from out wide and in the number ten position, allowing Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio a well deserved break too. Said Benrahma impressed against Forest, and could be given the game off to ensure he’s fresh for Brighton at the weekend.
Up front, Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca has impressed in his two substitute appearances so far but much like Cornet he could do with some extra minutes in his legs and should start here.
Predicted West Ham XI vs Viborg: Areola; Coufal, Kehrer, Zouma, Johnson; Soucek, Downes; Lanzini, Fornals, Cornet; Scamacca.