West Ham welcome Leicester City to the London Stadium looking to prove the win at Arsenal was not another false dawn.
There have not been many wins for West Ham over the last 14 months, let alone this season.
But of the few there have been, they have proved to be a flash in the pan rather than the foundation of getting the Hammers moving upwards again.
Ironically it was the reverse fixture against Leicester which proved pivotal in West Ham’s season.
A 3-1 defeat at the King Power saw West Ham’s away fans turn on Julen Lopetegui.
And it was that day when the club first initiated contact with Graham Potter.
West Ham’s new boss was doing some punditry work for Amazon that evening when he held informal discussions with then technical director Tim Steidten.
Images from that meeting would later emerge when the Hammers decided to fire Lopetegui following hammerings to Liverpool and Man City at the turn of the year.
Now Potter leads the team against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side himself looking to prove it was the right call.
Potter makes big call on two West Ham changes for Leicester
There has been plenty of evidence of that so far.
Especially in West Ham’s 1-0 win at Arsenal over the weekend.
But the Foxes will be the true test for the Hammers.
When West Ham face teams who sit off them and ask the question ‘can you break us down’ they have often struggled.
It is a major reason the club is 16th in the Premier League table with little but pride and position earnings to play for.
Potter will be looking to prove his approach can overcome that major issue.
Hammers News believes Potter has made a big call on two West Ham changes for Leicester.
Many West Ham fans are itching to see striker signing Evan Ferguson get his first start.
Some supporters were a touch disappointed with how the Hammers approached the game after Arsenal had been reduced to 10 men.
Potter’s side sat quite deep, inviting pressure – with the clear intention of counter-attacking.
Many fans wanted and expected to see Ferguson come on when Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off.
But he did not make an appearance until the 82nd minute, barely touching the ball when he did come on.
They say never change a winning team.
However, West Ham’s problems overcoming teams who sit off them means Potter may have to. Or at least probably should.
Ferguson is his biggest dilemma in that regard.
Ferguson’s West Ham debut pondered but it changes the shape
Another is young Ollie Scarles.
The Academy graduate was brilliant on his full Premier League debut at Arsenal.
Potter has raved about him since the game.
But the Hammers boss has also sounded a word of warning that Scarles may have to be dipped in and out of the side on occasion.
Potter has clearly not been overly impressed with Emerson Palmieri since arriving.
The Brazilian-born former Italy international is the only player Potter has subbed off in every game he has started.
He was dropped in favour of Scarles for the Arsenal game.
Scarles to retain place despite Potter’s warning
Logic says Scarles keeps his place but Potter has dropped hints he could bring him in and out of the team – as he did after 20-year-old’s Man of the Match display in the manager’s first game at Aston Villa.
West Ham’s media team also appears to have been dropping some clues too.
Footage from training suggests Ferguson will once again be on the bench for West Ham.
Those are Potter’s big calls for the Leicester game, whether to start Ferguson and bring Emerson back in.
On the basis of how good Scarles was and the fact Ferguson was seen involved in drills with the other players from the sub’s bench from the Emirates, we think Potter goes with an unchanged team.
However, if he does decide to bring the loan striker in for his first Hammers start, it would likely be Aaron Cresswell to drop out with the team reverting to a back four.
Predicted West Ham starting XI for Leicester:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Cresswell, Scarles, Soucek, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Bowen.
Predicted West Ham starting XI for Leicester with Ferguson:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Scarles, Soucek, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Bowen, Ferguson.
West Ham vs Leicester kicks off at 8pm and is live on TNT Sports.
Official teams will be announced at 6.45pm.
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