West Ham take on Sunderland in what is a huge clash for the club’s survival hopes and Nuno Espirito Santo has made four major selection calls.
Paul Merson called it in the summer when assessing the Premier League season ahead as he warned West Ham about Sunderland.
Merson said Sunderland would be ‘licking their lips’ at finishing above the Hammers as he predicted relegation for the east Londoners.
His prediction has looked more like a premonition up to now with Sunderland absolutely flying up in ninth place, just three points off the top four and West Ham effectively six points adrift of safety in the bottom three.
Victory over Spurs last time out has breathed new life into West Ham’s bid for Premier League survival.
West Ham aim for back-to-back wins in Sunderland clash
A home game against Sunderland should represent a great chance for the Hammers to close the gap on the teams above them with Forest away at high-flying Brentford and Leeds at Everton.
But the Black Cats will be no pushovers and will take confidence from having smashed West Ham 3-0 on the opening day of the season.
It is nearly a decade since West Ham last beat Sunderland!
But can you fill in the gaps in Slaven Bilic's XI from this 2016 win?
Nuno Espirito Santo has had plenty going on since the win at Spurs.
Lucas Paqueta has dominated headlines by pushing for a move to Flamengo.
The Hammers have made their third signing of the window in little-known Venezuelan winger Keiber Lamadrid.
The truth behind Nuno’s fallout with West Ham exile James Ward-Prowse was revealed and El Hadji Malick Diouf has returned to the fold following his African triumph with Senegal.
The mystery behind the rift between Nuno and Hammers outcast Ward-Prowse has been solved.
It all gives the head coach plenty to ponder as pressure ramps up on every game West Ham play.
Nuno has made four big calls on a West Ham new boy, a returning hero and two outcasts for Sunderland.
Nuno makes four big calls on West Ham team for Sunderland
Paqueta has not been training with his teammates and a £38m move to Flamengo will go through as soon as the Brazilian club agree to West Ham’s demands over how the fee should be paid.
Therefore the playmaker is not in the squad to face Sunderland, making it the third game in a row he has missed.
If Malick Diouf said this to your face – what would you say back? 😂
Not sure many would agree…
Diouf is back and has been training while Ward-Prowse has been seen with the main group after the departure of Andy Irving and with Paqueta leaving.
With Guido Rodriguez joining Valencia, Ward-Prowse has been given a route back to the first team squad for now.
Adama Traore is set to join the Hammers imminently and should be in the squad for the Chelsea game.
Although West Ham are making room for at least one more signing before the window closes.
There is also the question of whether Nuno might throw tricky winger Lamadrid into the action given West Ham have a lack of strength in depth in those areas.
Hammers News believes the starting XI will actually be unchanged from the win at Spurs.
There is a chance Diouf will come straight back in but Nuno likes Ollie Scarles, who has been playing well and growing in confidence.
Hammers unchanged for Black Cats but squad boosted?
Scarles will keep the shirt but expect to see Diouf at some stage.
Ward-Prowse could find himself back in the squad given Paqueta’s absence and Rodriguez’s impending exit.
Lamadrid could be something of a wildcard on the bench to bring on at some stage.
But the reality is the 22-year-old may not even make the squad given he is only just in the midst of a Venezuelan pre-season.
Tomas Soucek has been in and out of the side but will likely keep his place after a superb and typically selfless, hard-working display in the win at Tottenham.
Match-winner Callum Wilson will be on the bench ready to come on and play a key role in the second half.
Predicted West Ham starting XI and squad to face Sunderland:
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Scarles, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Pablo, Castellanos.
Bench: Hermansen, Kilman, Diouf, Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse, Magassa, Potts, Kante, Wilson.
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