Kurt Zouma to return in two changes: West Ham predicted line-up v Newcastle United
David Moyes is predicted to make two changes to the West Ham starting line-up ahead of their clash against Newcastle United at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Kurt Zouma and Said Benrahma could both return to Moyes’ 11 with Issa Diop and Manuel Lanzini both finding themselves axed to the bench.
Zouma, 27, was withdrawn from the side that drew 2-2 at Leicester last week due to an illness but speaking on The West Ham Way podcast on 14 February, ExWHUemployee has reported that the under-fire centre-back “should be available for the Newcastle game”.
Diop, 25, replaced Zouma in the starting line-up at the King Power but he’s now expected to drop out, as is 28-year-old Lanzini, who failed to have much of an impact at Leicester.
Benrahma, 26, was in superb form before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations in January so there’s no doubt Moyes will be looking to get the Algeria international firing on all cylinders for his side again.
As for the rest of the predicted starting line-up, it’s all very familiar with Lukasz Fabianski starting in goals behind a back-four of Vladimir Coufal, Craig Dawson, Zouma and Aaron Cresswell.
Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice are expected to start in the centre of the midfield.
Jarrod Bowen, who scored and assisted a goal in the 2-2 at Leicester, is likely to start on the right-wing with Benramha coming in on the left, flanking Pablo Fornals in the attacking midfield role.
Michail Antonio has been shy of goals as of late but the Jamaica international is nailed-on to spearhead Moyes’ attack against Newcastle as the Irons look to strengthen their bid to finish in the Premier League’s top-four.
In other West Ham news, Simon Jordan and Trever Sinclair butted heads in a heated debate over this big-name Irons ace.