David Moyes makes four West Ham changes for Viborg and faces one big call over a debut or long-awaited return in our predicted team.
West Ham entertain Danish side Viborg FF at the London Stadium tonight in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off tie.
The Hammers go into the crucial game without manager Moyes, captain Declan Rice and vice skipper Aaron Cresswell.
All three are banned after suspensions dished out on that tempestuous and ultimately heartbreaking night in Frankfurt back in May.
West Ham were already suffering a defensive injury crisis with Kurt Zouma their only available senior centre back.
So without Rice and Cresswell, who can both deputise there if needed, the problem is exacerbated for this must-win banana skin.
Moyes eased his defensive woes with the bargain £10.1m capture of German star Thilo Kehrer on Wednesday.
Kehrer will wear the number 24. Photo: West Ham United FC
The ex PSG man has declared he is ready to play against Viborg if needed.
There is talk in West Ham circles that Angelo Ogbonna could be edging closer to a return to first team action too and was spotted in training ahead of the game.
West Ham cannot afford to take this tie lightly if they want to reach the group stage proper.
And the ghosts of Astra Giurgiu act as a very recent reminder that these games against so-called European minnows are not always straightforward.
Therefore the Hammers will have to go as strong as they can for this one.
It seems Craig Dawson will still be missing as he struggles with a quad injury, as confirmed by assistant coach Billy McKinlay but Flynn Downes should be fit after missing training with a minor toe issue.
We predict Moyes will make four West Ham changes for Viborg and he faces one big call over a debut or long-awaited return.
Alphonse Areola will come in for Lukasz Fabianski in goal for the first change.
Then Moyes must decide whether to bring Ogbonna back or hand Kehrer his debut alongside Kurt Zouma in central defence for the second change.
Whatever the Scot decides, that man will come in for Cresswell with Ben Johnson shifting across to cover at left-back.
Many would expect to see Downes come in to replace Rice. But this is a very important game and Moyes tends to go with experience in those circumstances. So we think the third change will see Manuel Lanzini come in for Rice, with either him or Pablo Fornals playing a central midfield role.
West Ham fans will finally get to see new £35m striker Gianluca Scamacca start a game as he takes the place of Michail Antonio up front.
Moyes may be tempted to make a fifth change by bringing another new signing, Maxwel Cornet, in from the start for either Said Benrahma or Jarrod Bowen.
But we think he will introduce the Ivory Coast star from the bench.
Another way Moyes could go is to not risk Kehrer or Ogbonna and keep Johnson at centre-back with Cornet at left-back.
Again that would be four changes in total.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Viborg:
Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Kehrer or Ogbonna, Johnson, Soucek, Lanzini, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Scamacca.
Alternative West Ham starting XI to face Viborg if Moyes does not risk Kehrer or Ogbonna:
Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Johnson, Cornet, Soucek, Lanzini, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Scamacca.
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