West Ham United boss David Moyes is pondering one change for the trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
West Ham lose best season for 35 years stat but can get it back at Villa
Moyes has a reputation for playing his cards close to his chest when it comes to team selection.
And ahead of West Ham’s trip to Villa Park it was no different.
Hammers and Villa enjoying superb seasons
Like West Ham, Villa are enjoying a superb season which contrasts hugely to the previous campaign.
The Hammers go into the game off the back of a disappointingly poor performance in a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool last time out.
Aston Villa meanwhile looked good in a 1-0 win over Southampton.
The first game between the two sides this season was a feisty affair.
Jack Grealish was criticised and accused of diving by West Ham fans after the match.
So all eyes will be his influence on the game.
All eyes on Grealish but Moyes is pondering one big change
Given West Ham’s fine form before Liverpool it is a tough call for Moyes to make changes.
But he is considering one.
Moyes confirmed new signing Jesse Lingard will be in the squad (whufc.com).
But he refused to comment on whether the loan signing from Manchester United would start.
Lingard has come to West Ham for game time. And he only has 16 matches – including Villa – that he can participate in as he is cup-tied and cannot face his parent club in the league.
Many West Ham fans were calling for Lingard to replace Pablo Fornals in the starting XI against Dean Smith’s side – read full story here.
Moyes has a decision to make and it all centres around Lingard’s match sharpness.
The midfielder has played only two games since July and 11 in the last 18 months.
So does Moyes start him and take him off when he tires? Or does he stick with the same team that started against Liverpool and introduce Lingard in the second half?
It is a dilemma for Moyes. With permanent signings the Scot affords the player time to settle into the team and his style.
But Lingard has lots of Premier League and international experience and can hit the ground running.
Lingard will be looking for game time but Moyes must juggle whether to use his pace and energy from the start or as a second half sub
The 28-year-old is on a short-term loan with no option to buy. He has come to West Ham to try and win back his place in the England squad and impress Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
So it will prove a pointless loan if Moyes does not have plans to get him in the starting line-up sooner rather than later.
West Ham were flat against Liverpool. They looked as tired and in need of a spark.
Lingard could be just that spark.
But much will depend on whether Moyes takes a cagey approach to start with against strong opposition.
Gut instinct says Moyes will revert to type and play it safe. So expect to see Lingard around 65 minutes of this one depending on how the game is balanced.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Villa:
Fabianski, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Dawson, Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Benrahma Fornals, Bowen, Antonio.
West Ham boss David Moyes refuses to take Martin Keown bait
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