Predicted: Nuno wakes up as West Ham star recalled for must-win Brighton clash

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West Ham face the first of three must-win games in a week as they welcome bogey team Brighton to the London Stadium and Nuno Espirito Santo is planning a big change.

The Hammers stand at a crossroads for their Premier League survival when they take on Brighton.

If West Ham can win the game, fixtures elsewhere this midweek mean there is a possibility they will be just three points from safety.

With Forest playing Everton, Burnley facing Newcastle, Wolves at Man United and Bournemouth up against Chelsea, this is a game which can see West Ham make up big ground at a vital time.

Lose, though, and the outlook begins to look increasingly bleak for Nuno Espirito Santo and his side.

The defeat to Fulham has seen speculation swirl over Nuno’s future – and not for the first time in his short three-month tenure.

West Ham predicted team to face Brighton

The head coach has not helped himself with some utterly bizarre selection decisions and line-ups.

That includes omitting his only striker, Callum Wilson, from the starting XI in a must-win home game against a depleted Fulham side.

What CHANGES would you make to our West Ham and Brighton combined XI?

And which Brighton players would you take at the Hammers?

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To make matters worse, the Hammers had a host of gilt-edged chances that were begging to be put away against the Cottagers while Wilson was sat on the bench.

He then made an instant impact when coming on in the second half and should have scored at least one goal, leaving fans wondering what might have been had he been on the pitch from the start to get his eye in.

Leaving Wilson out persistently is clearly Nuno’s way of telling West Ham’s owners he needs a new starting striker.

There has already been friction behind the scenes regarding transfers ahead of the window opening on Friday.

The West Ham board voiced frustration with Nuno over targets, saying he has been ‘very slow’ to approve moves.

Nuno hit back at that West Ham board criticism with his own transfer warning ahead of the game against Brighton and the window opening.

Signing a striker is of paramount importance.

There was some good news on that front for Nuno after a striker target demanded a move to West Ham following an opening bid.

Nuno wakes up as West Ham star recalled for Brighton clash

But until that window opens, Nuno needs to make use of the squad he has at his disposal.

A squad he admitted himself ahead of the game is ‘unbalanced’.

We think Nuno wakes up as a West Ham star is recalled for the must-win Brighton clash.

While the defeat to Fulham was crushing, West Ham did actually play reasonably well for the most part.

The unfortunate mistake from Ollie Scarles clouded everything, though.

There is simply no way Wilson doesn’t start this game, another must-win at home.

We think Nuno makes one big change for the visit of the Seagulls.

And that will see Wilson come back into the team.

Who he replaces is the big conundrum facing the manager, though.

Does Nuno drop the under-performing Lucas Paqueta or Crysencio Summerville?

Or does the head coach ditch one of his defensive midfielders Freddie Potts or Soungoutou Magassa to make way for Wilson?

We think Nuno will wake up to the relegation danger and go for it with Wilson up top.

That could see Potts or Magassa dropped with Nuno previously describing Paqueta as ‘irreplaceable’.

Wilson to start with Magassa harshly dropped by Hammers boss?

But the Brazilian’s performances have been nowhere near good enough for a player of his talent.

So Paqueta should not be untouchable.

We think one of Paqueta, Potts or Magassa will make way for Wilson as Nuno is leaving it late to name his team ahead of this one.

Paqueta may keep his place and Magassa may drop out of the team instead.

That is harsh on the young Frenchman, who has been one of West Ham’s most impressive players of late.

Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Brighton:

Areola, Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Fernandes, Potts, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen, Wilson.

All Premier League results between West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion