Nuno Espirito Santo will surely give West Ham fans first look at winter signing vs Burton
West Ham probably don’t want to pause to their Premier League action this weekend.
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side have turned around their league form in recent weeks, and are now firmly in with a chance of survival.
West Ham have won three of their last five games in the Premier League, and gained another valuable point when drawing 1-1 with Man United last time out.
However, they must now turn their attentions to the FA Cup, as they travel to Burton for a fourth round clash this Saturday.
Nuno Espirito Santo should hand Keiber Lamadrid first West Ham start
The Hammers are obviously big favourites to beat the Brewers on Saturday, with Gary Bowyer’s side currently sitting 21st and in the relegation zone in League One.
Bowyer’s boys are winless from their last five league games, but did make light work of National League promotion-chasers Boreham Wood in the third round, winning 5-0.
However, the Hammers are going to provide a huge test on Saturday, and as for Nuno, the trip to Staffordshire presents a good opportunity to rest and rotate his squad.
One player who should get the chance to make his first West Ham start this weekend is Keiber Lamadrid, who signed for the Hammers on loan until the end of the season this winter.
The 22-year-old is already a Venezuela international, and played over 100 times for Deportivo La Guaira before joining the Hammers, so he’s got plenty of senior football under his belt.
West Ham do have the option to make his loan transfer a permanent one this summer too, and so this FA Cup clash presents a golden opportunity to see how he fares against a tough old Burton side in what could be a proper cup tie.
Lamadrid has already flashed West Ham potential
So, whilst Lamadrid would be making his senior West Ham debut if he plays against Burton on Saturday, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s pulled on a Hammers shirt.
That’s because he was handed 45 minutes for West Ham’s Under-21s against Middlesbrough in Premier League 2 on 2 February, and he made an instant impact.
Scoring the second of West Ham’s three goals that night, Lamadrid sent a powerful and whipped left-footed effort from the edge of the box flying into the Boro net on 12 minutes, showcasing his talent and potential.
That goal will’ve undoubtedly made its way back to Nuno and the first-team coaching staff, and may well be enough to warrant a first-team opportunity against Burton.