There could be a last ever start for one West Ham man as David Moyes makes four changes for the FA Cup replay at Bristol City.
West Ham face Championship side Bristol City in an FA Cup third round replay at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night.
Over 3,000 Hammers fans will once again pack out the away allocation on a wintry night despite the game being televised on BBC One.
The big dilemma facing West Ham boss David Moyes for the match is which way to go regarding team selection.
With a host of key stars unavailable, does Moyes field his second string back-ups who have failed to impress this season and last?
Last ever start for West Ham man?
Or does he throw in some of West Ham’s hugely talented young academy stars?
Physical Bristol City proved they can match the Hammers in the 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
So the latter might be deemed too much of a risk by some.
Mohammed Kudus and Nayef Aguerd are away at AFCON and therefore unavailable.
And both Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen will both miss the game through injury.
Divin Mubama struggled when he replaced Paqueta in the first game. And after the match Moyes hailed Danny Ings for his second half cameo describing him as ‘the best player on the pitch when he came on’.
Ings has been linked with a move away from West Ham having flopped since joining for £15m a year ago this week.
Moyes makes four changes at Bristol City
But that has been put on hold until West Ham get some of their forward players back – with Bowen expected to return against Sheffield United this weekend.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – also injured in the first game – has been back in training and looks set to play. But Vladimir Coufal – another injury victim against the Robins – has been back in training but is said to be a doubt due to a minor knock.
Read also: How West Ham’s FA Cup replay at Bristol City will be settled if it’s a draw
We predict there could be a last ever start for the West Ham man as Moyes makes four changes for Bristol City.
Ings may be the one to come in for Paqueta in what will likely be his last ever Hammers start.
Meanwhile Maxwel Cornet should come in for Bowen given Said Benrahma has been the subject of a reported bid from Marseille.
If Coufal is indeed out then we expect Ben Johnson to fill in.
Alvarez doubts could mean a fifth change
It is well known that captain Kurt Zouma is not able to play two games close together.
So we think Moyes will bring in Angelo Ogbonna for Zouma with one eye on the Sheffield United match in the Premier League.
Edson Alvarez has not been seen in training either in the lead up to the game and could be a doubt.
Should he also not make it then expect Mubama to start with Pablo Fornals playing centrally.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Bristol City with Alvarez (four changes):
Fabianski, Johnson, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Emerson, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Fornals, Cornet, Ings.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Bristol City without Alvarez (five changes):
Fabianski, Johnson, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Emerson, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Fornals, Mubama, Cornet, Ings.
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