Mohamadou Kante and Adama Traore start while Pablo Felipe makes his return from injury as West Ham United host Brentford in the FA Cup fifth round at the London Stadium.
Changes were expected from Nuno Espirito Santo as the Hammers’ Premier League survival bid takes a backwards seat for the evening.
What was not anticipated, though, is the return of their £18 million January signing from Gil Vicente. Pablo Felipe returned to training a couple of days ago, but few would have imagined that he would be back in the starting XI for the first time since the 2-0 win at Burnley a month ago.
Pablo back and Kante starts!
Give us your immediate REACTION to the West Ham XI…
Pablo leads the line for West Ham United against London neighbours Brentford. Young midfielder Kante makes his second senior start, while Traore comes in for the in-form Crysencio Summerville.
West Ham United host Brentford aiming for an FA Cup quarter-final
Kyle Walker-Peters, Alphonse Areola and Ollie Scarles replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mads Hermansen and El Hadji Malick Diouf. Mateus Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen, Axel Disasi and Tomas Soucek all keep their places, though, from the 1-0 midweek win at Fulham.
Teenage goalkeeper Fin Herrick is on the bench. Should West Ham need them, Nuno can also introduce Summerville, Taty Castellanos, Callum Wilson and Soungoutou Magassa.
Magassa was excellent at Craven Cottage a few days ago, and may be disappointed to start among the substitutes again.
Brentford go strong, meanwhile. Top scorer Igor Thiago starts, alongside Kevin Schade, Mikkel Damsgaard and Dango Ouattara in attack.
What would you sacrifice for FA Cup GLORY?
Surely not your Premier League status…
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