Tomas Soucek has sent an unerring message to David Moyes in training as the boss faces an inescapable West Ham dilemma for Man City.
West Ham are set for arguably the toughest test they will face all season when champions and treble winners Manchester City roll into town this Saturday.
They say never change a winning team. And with West Ham on a three-game winning run, that might make David Moyes’ job easy for the Man City game.
The problem is the Scot has an exciting and expensive new star to shoe-horn into the Hammers side and Tomas Soucek back in the fold.
Soucek missed the Luton win before the international break due to concussion protocols. His place as a starter has divided opinion among some West Ham fans but Soucek is usually one of the first names on Moyes’ teamsheet.
Tomas Soucek sends unerring message to David Moyes in training as boss faces inescapable West Ham dilemma for Man City
A club source claimed last week that the big Czech has signed a secret new four-year deal at the club.
Although he is absolutely vital defensively – perhaps more than many appreciate – West Ham’s midfield trio of Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez has won plenty of praise from fans and pundits.
Moyes could of course bring Soucek back into the team alongside Alvarez as a road block in central midfield to stop Man City’s array of attacking talent.
But that would see Paqueta pushed out to the left with Said Benrahma the obvious casualty. But then what about £38m new boy Mohammed Kudus?
It’s a great problem to have of course.
Moyes may also be influenced by the international break when he decides how to line-up against Manchester City.
Because Moyes told talkSPORT he will not be getting Alvarez back from Mexico duty until later today or Friday at the earliest. And he admits that will make it difficult to have him ready to face Man City.
“We’ve got Edson Alvarez who we don’t think we’ll get him back until late Thursday afternoon,” Moyes said.
“It’s the same for a lot of clubs. We’ve just got to get on with it. But I’ve got to say, it will be really tough to get them back from those trips and then get them ready to play on the Saturday.”
Soucek meanwhile has been back at Rush Green training all week after completing international duty with a 1-1 draw against Hungary on Sunday night.
In that game Soucek showed superb feet and sharpness to register an assist not dissimilar to Jude Bellingham’s for Harry Kane.
Now Soucek has sent an unerring message to Moyes in training as the boss faces an inescapable West Ham dilemma for Man City.
Super sharp Soucek shooting shots
Video footage from training posted online by West Ham, which you can watch below, shows a sharp Soucek turning Lucas Paqueta and holding the Brazilian off before firing a beautiful curling effort into the top corner.
Soucek smashes a goal home from close range on around 2mins 50secs before his brilliant effort which is shown 10 seconds later.
There is no getting away from the fact Moyes faces a major selection headache when everyone is fit and available.
Given the late returns of Kudus and Alvarez – and Soucek’s sharpness – it may make the manager’s mind up for him ahead of the Man City match.