It’s been less than a month since Nuno Espirito Santo replaced Graham Potter as West Ham United manager, but he will be keen to finally get off the mark later today.
The Hammers are set for a crunch capital derby against Brentford, and are desperate to end an embarrassing four-game winless streak (D1, L3).
Nuno has managed to pick up a point from his opening two games at West Ham after taking on Everton and early-season pacesetters Arsenal.
However, he’ll be keen to make a statement in his first home game as West Ham manager, and Brentford’s visit might be the perfect chance to flip the script.
The Hammers are still looking for their second Premier League win since thrashing Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the City Ground at the end of August.
How West Ham could line up
Despite going into the international break on the back foot, Nuno will likely make just one change to the team that lost 2-0 to Arsenal.
That means Monday’s visitors can expect a familiar back five with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and El Hadji Malick Diouf lining up ahead of Alphonse Areola.
Nuno will be able to count on Tomas Soucek once again after the Czech international midfielder served a three-match ban for picking up a straight red card against Tottenham Hotspur.
However, he has been out of the loop for over a month, so he could start on the bench, giving Nuno a chance to stick with his midfield pairing of Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa.
The Hammers have been lacking flair and dynamism in the middle of the park, but Fernandes and Magassa have the ability to run the show.
Lucas Paqueta has been a standout performer for West Ham and should retain his place in the number 10 role, while skipper Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville line up on the flanks.
The only change to the starting line-up will come at the top end of the pitch with Callum Wilson poised to step in for the injured Niclas Fullkrug.
Predicted West Ham starting XI
(4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf; Fernandes, Magassa; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Wilson.
