How much can be read into West Ham United’s team selection for their latest International Premier League Cup clash? And does this equal a call-up for George Earthy and Mohamadou Kante against Manchester City?
Both of these questions will be answered in the build-up to the visit of Pep Guardiola’s title challengers on Saturday.
Nuno will be without Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf due to their African Cup of Nations involvement with DR Congo and Senegal.
And although Ollie Scarles returned to training last week, West Ham’s Young Player of the Year may have to wait before he returns to the XI after two months out of action with a shoulder injury.
There will be at least two places available on the bench, then, as a couple of budding youngsters look to force their way back into the matchday squad.
George Earthy certainly is the best young prospect at West Ham. What more does he need to do for Nuno to give him game time?
Mohamadou Kante, Ezra Mayers and Callum Marshall all made senior West Ham United debuts this season. Nuno has taken a closer look at Airidas Golambeckis behind the scenes at Rush Green, too.
But if anyone deserves a chance, particularly after Lucas Paqueta produced a midfield disasterclass last time out against Aston Villa, it’s George Earthy.
West Ham United supporters hope to see George Earthy against Manchester City
The West Ham fans made their feelings clear when Earthy was given a rousing reception following yet another goal for Greg Lincoln’s Under-21s last week. He scored the winner in a 1-0 EFL Trophy victory over Colchester.
In total, former Bristol City loanee Earthy has eight goal contributions in seven U21 matches since recovering from a hamstring injury.
Does his absence from the matchday squad during West Ham’s 2-1 defeat by Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night hint that a first senior outing of 2025/26 could be on the horizon?
Alongside Earthy, Kante, Mayers, Golambeckis and Marshall were also nowhere to be seen during the second match of the International Premier League Cup campaign.
“No Earthy,” the West Ham Central account responded, complete with the eye emojis that usually go hand-in-hand with sneaky hints.
“[Earthy] in the squad for Saturday,” another fan predicted.
“No George Earthy on the bench tonight for West Ham Under-21s. Matchday squad for City perhaps? We’ll see. Same for Mayers and Kante.”
“Kante now a permanent first-team player, that’s very nice.”
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Nuno Espirito Santo gave Mohamadou Kante his debut against Manchester United
At the risk of raining on the proverbial parade, though, there is a chance that Lincoln is using the International Premier League Cup as an opportunity to rest some of his star performers. The aforementioned quintet were also omitted for the 4-0 defeat by Athletic Bilbao earlier in the month.
Then again, that Basque beating did come just one day before Soungoutou Magassa snatched a point at Old Trafford on December 4th.
Earthy, Marshall and Mayers were all on Nuno’s bench on that Manchester evening. Kante made his top-flight debut.
All eventualities seem possible, then, as Man City loom.
“It’s an International Under-21 game. They tend not to go full strength and give some of the fringe players a game,” a more pessimistic supporter wrote on social media, their point backed up by the fact at that Under-18 sensation Andre Dike was called up for that Athletic clash.
“No Marshall [as well as Earthy, Mayers, Golambeckis and Kante]. Think they’ve just been left out for today. Don’t think it means anything [regarding Manchester City].”
It did feel notable, though, that Nuno bemoaned George Earthy’s injury issues shortly after taking over from Graham Potter. An ankle problem curtained his pre-season plans, while a hamstring injury ruled him out during the first few weeks of the post-Potter era.
The Standard have since claimed that Nuno is wary of throwing Earthy back in before he is truly ready.
Against Colchester, though, the England youth ace played the full 90 minutes for the first time since September. The natural next step, then, would be a return to the senior roster after a year-and-a-half away.
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