Lucas Paqueta and Danny Ings to start, Michail Antonio to be axed – West Ham United predicted XI v Nottingham Forest
David Moyes could look to make some changes and take some risks with his West Ham lineup for the make or break clash with Nottingham Forest this weekend.
The Hammers find themselves in the relegation zone having suffered 13 defeats in their 23 games so far this season, with reports suggesting that Moyes could be sacked if they don’t win the next game.
But with several players returning from injury this week, Moyes could look freshen things up with his starting lineup in order to help the team out of trouble but also buy himself more time.
Fans have called for Alphonse Areola to be installed between the sticks to try and improve the team’s chances of a clean sheet, but Moyes has been insistent on his selection of Lukasz Fabianski and that will continue here.
Moyes has gone with a five-at-the-back system in recent games and it has produced good results in three of the last four games, which means he’s likely to stick with that.
Angelo Ogbonna and Nayef Aguerd have formed a good partnership as two of the three centre-backs, but with Kurt Zouma returning to training he should slot in ahead of Thilo Kehrer as the third option.
Vladimir Coufal and Emerson Palmieri are the obvious options at wing-back, although Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson are also pushing for starts too.
Declan Rice will continue in the midfield, and is likely to be reunited with his long-time partner Tomas Soucek in the deeper role but Flynn Downes is sure to drop out of the team this time around.
Lucas Paqueta is expected to be fit after a shoulder injury and he will come back into the side, but likely in a more advanced role to give him some more freedom.
In attack Jarrod Bowen continues to be seen as undroppable by Moyes despite his bang average performances this season, and he will start but his parter is likely to be different.
Michail Antonio has started regularly in recent weeks but both Danny Ings and Gianluca Scamacca returned to the bench against Tottenham.
The Italian is in the early stages of his return though, but Ings could get his first start since signing for the club in January as Moyes looks to find a reliable goalscorer to lead the line.
Predicted West Ham XI v Nottingham Forest: Fabianski; Zouma, Ogbonna, Aguerd; Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Paqueta, Emerson; Bowen, Ings