Nuno Espirito Santo hands full debut as changes rung – West Ham predicted XI vs Burton Albion
West Ham are looking to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup when they travel to Burton Albion on Saturday.
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s men are coming into Saturday’s fourth round tie in good form, having taken a valuable point from Manchester United in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
West Ham beat QPR by two goals to one in the third round back on 11 January, as they still harbour dreams of lifting the famous trophy for the first time since 1980.
However, the three-time winners of the competition will need to avoid an upset against Burton Albion this weekend, as the League One strugglers are hoping for a famous afternoon at the Pirelli Stadium.
It looks set to be a proper old-fashioned cup tie in Staffordshire on Saturday, and Nuno could look to use it as an opportunity to make some sweeping changes to his starting XI.
Adama Traore to make full West Ham debut as Nuno rings the changes
Since signing for West Ham in this season’s winter window, Adama Traore has had very few opportunities to show what he can do in a Hammers shirt.
The 30-year-old winger has made three Premier League appearances since arriving from Fulham, but all of those have been from the substitutes bench.
So far, he’s collected just 11 minutes of league action for West Ham this season, receiving just single-minute cameos against Man United and Burnley, with his nine-minute appearance against Chelsea his lengthiest opportunity so far.
However, that looks set to change on Saturday, as Nuno is surely going to rest both Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville for Burton, handing Traore the ideal chance to make his full debut.
In relation to that, Burton also looks to be a nice opportunity to hand Keiber Lamadrid his senior West Ham debut too, with the 22-year-old winger having made one appearance for the Under-21s so far.
Mateus Fernandes could be another key player that is rested on Saturday, and Soungoutou Magassa could relish a starting opportunity in his place.
Ezra Mayers could come into central defence too, whilst Callum Wilson may get a starting chance following Pablo’s injury blow this week, with Taty Castellanos dropping to the bench.
Nuno has also confirmed that Alphonse Areola wills start in goal too, having been dropped for the last two Premier League games.
Traore has to take Burton chance if it arrives
With Summerville now playing his best football in a West Ham shirt, Traore’s opportunities under Nuno are set to remain at a premium.
Indeed, it’s probably only through injuries/suspensions that his Premier League starting minutes might arrive, so this Saturday’s FA Cup tie will need to see him put in a big performance if Nuno grants him the chance.
Burton are 21st in League One, and have conceded 45 league goals so far this season, meaning that a player of Adama’s experience and ability should be able to hurt them.
Therefore, there’s going to be a significant amount of pressure on him to deliver if he’s in the lineup, as a poor display against the League One relegation contenders may seal his West Ham fate already.