Gianluca Scamacca to return – West Ham United predicted XI v FCSB in Europa Conference League
West Ham will look to kick off their Europa Conference League campaign with three points on Thursday when they host Romanian side FCSB.
The Hammers were beaten by Chelsea at the weekend controversially, as they saw a late equaliser ruled out for a dubious foul.
But with the side desperate for a win to get some momentum on their side, David Moyes has some decisions to make with starting lineup as he must balance resting players in a hectic schedule too.
One of those positions that will almost certainly see a change is in goal, with Alphonse Areola considered the cup goalkeeper once again after signing permanently in the summer.
In defence the boss doesn’t have many options right now and changes will be few and far between. Emerson Palmieri is likely to continue at left-back ahead of Aaron Cresswell as both players compete to make the starting berth their own.
In the centre Angelo Ogbonna should come back into the side to get more minutes under his belt once again, and he’ll likely be partnered by summer signing Thilo Kehrer to allow Kurt Zouma a rest.
Right-back could see a change, with Vladimir Coufal the only fit senior player in the position Moyes could bring in Harrison Ashby. The club denied him a deadline day move to Newcastle when Ben Johnson suffered an injury, and playing him here would justify that decision.
In midfield Declan Rice will serve the final game of his suspension, fresh off being told to stop flapping his gums, so he will sit out, which means Tomas Soucek is likely to continue to ensure there is one senior player in the heart of the pitch.
He could be accompanied by academy starlet Conor Coventry, who impressed in the qualifying games and could get the nod ahead of summer signing Flynn Downes.
In attack there is a chance to get more minutes into the players who have yet to start regularly, with Maxwel Cornet and Lucas Paqueta set to get the nod after their summer arrivals.
Pablo Fornals could start on the right wing to offer some added discipline to the side, keeping out Manuel Lanzini who hasn’t started since the qualifying games for this competition.
Up front Gianluca Scamacca has missed the last two games with an illness, but the Italian is back in training and could come back into the starting lineup to give himself a chance of getting sharp for the weekend.
Predicted West Ham XI v FCSB: Areola; Ashby, Kehrer, Ogbonna, Emerson; Soucek, Coventry; Fornals, Paqueta, Cornet; Scamacca