West Ham have dropped a hint that two stars with just nine starts between them will play in Serbia after posting preparation pictures on social media.
West Ham are gearing up to take on Serbian side Backa Topola on Thursday night knowing a positive result will guarantee Europa League knockout football post Christmas.
It is game two of 10 in a hectic festive schedule between West Ham’s weekend win at Burnley and January 2nd.
A win would put West Ham in the box seat to top Group A. Because even if Freiburg get a win over Olympiacos, the Germans would then have to beat the Hammers by two clear goals at the London Stadium in the final group game to better their head-to-head record.
First up, though, is Backa Topola on Thursday evening. On paper it should be a comfortable win for West Ham.
But they proved tricky opponents in the reverse fixture in east London.
With a winnable game against Crystal Palace on the horizon at home on Sunday, David Moyes will be tempted to rotate his squad as he so often does in Europe.
Especially given the fact the Hammers have started to pick up injuries to key players of late including Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio. A hectic schedule has also been taking its toll on Mohammed Kudus’ back.
So have West Ham dropped a hint that two stars with just nine starts between them will play in Serbia after posting preparation pictures on social media?
West Ham have posted a collage of Angelo Ogbonna, Pablo Fornals, Lucas Paqueta and Tomas Souek on social media alongside the caption: “Preparations complete.”
That would suggest all four players will be involved in the game, possibly from the start.
Veteran defender Ogbonna has made just four starts in all competitions so far this season. And fellow West Ham fan favourite Fornals has made five.
Moyes revealed Nayef Aguerd had been struggling with injury after the international break.
He was named in the starting XI for Burnley but the manager may elect to rest him in Serbia – hence the hint over Ogbonna.
With Bowen not being risked for this Europa League game, Antonio out for two to three weeks and concerns over Kudus’ back, it would be no surprise to see Fornals come into the side either. Especially as Moyes also spoke out about his worries over the workload undertaken by Edson Alvarez lately too.
If the hint from West Ham proves true, here’s how Moyes might line his side up in Serbia:
Fabianski, Kehrer, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Soucek, Paqueta, Ward-Prowse, Fornals, Benrahma or Kudus, Mubama.
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