Three changes, Maxwel Cornet decision to be made – West Ham United predicted XI v Silkeborg
West Ham return to action in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday to take on Silkeborg in their second group stage game of the tournament.
The Hammers claimed a dominant 3-1 win at the London Stadium last week against FCSB thanks to goals from Jarrod Bowen, Emerson Palmieri and Michail Antonio, before their weekend clash with Newcastle was postponed.
Now David Moyes must select his team for the second game, knowing they will face a fully fresh Everton side on Sunday in the Premier League at Goodison Park.
In goal Alphonse Areola should get the nod following his summer signing, with his position as the cup goalkeeper unchanged so far during this campaign.
In defence, there are still several injury issues and Moyes is likely to keep the team relatively strong. Emerson should start on the left while Aaron Cresswell continues to recover from injury, while Thilo Kehrer should keep his place in the middle.
Craig Dawson is not fully fit yet, but Angelo Ogbonna is getting closer and should start in Europe once again to allow Kurt Zouma a rest. Harrison Ashby could make a start on the right after his transfer to Newcastle collapsed on deadline day with Ben Johnson out injured.
The midfield could see a few changes too, with Tomas Soucek suffering with a problem that ruled him out of the game last week.
That saw Declan Rice make his first European appearance of the season, but with a hectic schedule this season Moyes is likely to want to rest him where he can and this game provides a great chance for that.
Flynn Downes should keep his place in the starting lineup, but could be partnered by Argentine Manuel Lanzini in a more attacking midfield selection to keep the ball and sustain pressure in attack.
Further forward Cornet has been struggling with injury, but he was pictured back in training and is in contention to keep his place on the left wing from last week’s fixture.
On the right Pablo Fornals could come in for Said Benrahma, with Bowen allowed the chance to rest once again ahead of the weekend clash, while club-record signing Lucas Paqueta can be expected to start and get more first-team minutes under his belt.
Michail Antonio has found his goalscoring touch in recent weeks and that is likely to see him start at the weekend against Everton, so expect Italian Gianluca Scamacca to start here after he recovered from illness.
Predicted West Ham XI v Silkeborg: Areola; Ashby, Kehrer, Ogbonna, Emerson; Downes, Lanzini; Fornals, Paqueta, Cornet; Scamacca