Crysencio Summerville’s injury is a major blow for West Ham United, though Nuno Espirito Santo does have options to replace him.
Sadly, Summerville’s calf injury will rule him out of West Ham United versus Manchester City on Saturday night and it remains to be seen when the Dutchman can return.
Missing Summerville is a major blow for Nuno as he battles to keep West Ham in the Premier League.
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Three at the back? Another start for Kante and Pablo?
The winger has been one of the form players in the league in 2026 and any team in the land would miss a player of his quality.
Still, the show must go on. There is too much at stake to be reliant on just the one player.
With that in mind, Hammers News looks at three ways West Ham could line up without Summerville.
Changing shape to 3-5-2
There is, of course, the option of not using wingers at all.
Nuno could feasibly name a three-man defensive unit of Jean-Clair Todibo, Axel Disasi and Konstantinos Mavropanos, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf as wing-backs.
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Mateus Fernandes and Tomas Soucek would continue in central midfield and the only genuine difference in this formation would see Jarrod Bowen partner Taty Castellanos up front, rather than having the Hammers skipper out on the wing.
On paper, that would give West Ham a solid platform, though the width they have enjoyed in recent weeks would obviously be a thing of the past.
Adama Traore replaces Crysensio Summerville in direct swap
One of the other options is for Nuno to turn to Adama Traore and keep the 4-4-2 shape.
Indeed, Traore has previously played as a left winger under Nuno, and the Spaniard finally impressed in claret and blue shirt when West Ham beat Brentford in the FA Cup earlier this week.
Traore’s raw pace has caused City problems before and it could be a successful outlet for a West Ham team who generally cede possession and need carrying up the pitch anyway.
Whether the former Barcelona player has the quality to cut inside like Summerville is up for debate but he’s perhaps the most natural fit right now.
Nuno gambles on Keiber Lamadrid
Another January signing in the form of Keiber Lamadrid could be an alternative, too.
The 22-year-old is more of a natural left winger than Traore, although is clearly much less experienced.
He’d be a gamble, given the importance of the final nine games of the season for West Ham.
Lamadrid received mixed reviews from West Ham fans on his debut against Burton last month and he hasn’t made a senior appearance since.
The Venezuela international, however, has scored for the West Ham U21s in the game in which he’s played as a left winger this season.
Clearly, this is the most unlikely option for Nuno right now, but it is something he could feasibly consider.
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