Hammers boss David Moyes faced a huge and potentially game-changing West Ham selection dilemma for Sevilla.
Kick-off is edging ever nearer but Moyes faced a big headache over who to select in goal for the Sevilla clash between number one Lukasz Fabianski and Alphonse Areola.
Nearly four months since sealing a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, West Ham have travelled to Seville to take on the second best team in Spain.
It is quite simply West Ham’s biggest match in decades and the excitement is palpable ahead of today’s first leg.
West Ham have thoroughly embraced and enjoyed their European adventure this season.
After topping Group H, the east Londoners qualified directly for the last 16 and are now just three ties from a dream final in Seville.
But they will get an early taste of playing at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán after being handed arguably the toughest of the last 16 draws.
Heading into the game the form of both sides has stuttered of late.
West Ham played very well in the excruciating 1-0 defeat to Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool last time out.
Meanwhile Sevilla saw their own title hopes dashed when they were held to a 0-0 draw by relegation-threatened Alaves.
Managers David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui both have injury concerns too.
In-form Jarrod Bowen is out but thankfully Declan Rice looks set to play after training with the team before flying out to Seville.
Sevilla could be without as many as seven first team players for the game including suspended midfield ace Thomas Delaney.
Moyes has said he will play West Ham’s strongest XI in every possible game between now and the end of the season.
David Moyes faced huge game-changing West Ham selection dilemma for Sevilla
And that statement presents the Scot with a major West Ham selection dilemma in goal.
Areola has – on the whole – been West Ham’s goalkeeper for cup matches this season after signing on loan from PSG.
Moyes has made it clear that Lukasz Fabianski is his number one.
So on the basis that the West Ham boss has stated he will select his strongest available XI for every game between now and the end of the season, it would suggest Fabianski may actually start in Seville.
Both goalkeepers are vastly experienced.
But another indicator over which way Moyes will go could come from way back in West Ham’s first Europa League game of the campaign.
Could it be telling that Fabianski actually started that crucial opening Europa League game away at Dinamo Zagreb?
A 2-0 win there took the pressure off West Ham’s other Europa League group games and Areola came in for those.
But Moyes must make a big decision on whether to bring Areola in as a third change or stick with Fabianski – who some fans blamed for the goal West Ham conceded against Liverpool.
There’s no hiding the fact Moyes is faced with a huge and potentially game-changing decision in his West Ham selection dilemma for Sevilla given how important the role of the goalkeeper is.
Particularly away from home on a big European night. Let’s hope he makes the right call.
More West Ham news:
Lopetegui: ‘West Ham very good but not more excited than us’.
Mysterious Bowen injury has West Ham medics stumped says Moyes.
West Ham issue update on four stars ahead of Sevilla.
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