Concern as three key stars nowhere to be seen days before West Ham clash with Man United

West Ham have just been battered 4-1 by their fiercest Premier League rivals Spurs.

That has reignited speculation over Lopetegui’s future, a feeling Ten Hag knows well having endured it for the best part of a year at Manchester United.

Ironically Lopetegui was actually linked with the Old Trafford hotseat in the summer before INEOS elected to stick with Ten Hag.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co may be thanking their lucky stars on that one given the Spaniard’s woeful start to life in east London.

There has been further irony this week in that former West Ham assistant boss Edin Terzic has reportedly put on standby by both the Hammers’ owners and Man United’s.

Lopetegui has lost his best player in Mohammed Kudus not only for Manchester United but likely the five games afterwards too following his head loss against Tottenham.

The Irons are also still without summer striker signing Niclas Fullkrug.

With that as background it’s easy to see why West Ham vs Man United has been billed in some quarters as ‘El Sackico’.

Three key stars missing before West Ham vs Man United

The bad news for Lopetegui is that Man United have been somewhat rejuvenated in recent games.

Although the Red Devils do face a tough game and nine-hour round-trip to Turkey and back on Thursday and Friday before visiting the London Stadium on Sunday.

Now there’s concern as three key stars were nowhere to be seen days before the West Ham clash with Man United.

The Hammers’ media team has released training video footage and images ahead of their Premier League clash with Manchester United.

And three fundamental players were missing.

Captain Jarrod Bowen, defender Jean-Clair Todibo – who was wanted by Man United before they were blocked from signing him by UEFA – and midfielder Tomas Soucek are all missing.

Had the footage been released earlier in the week, there would be less reason to worry.

With Kudus out too it’s a big worry for the Hammers

But coming just 72 hours before the crunch match will have Hammers fans – and the manager – biting their nails.

In almost five minutes of video footage from Rush Green, the trio of Bowen, Todibo and Soucek are not featured at all.

Young centre-back Kaelan Casey is in training, which may also suggest there might be an issue with Todibo.

Another player who appears to be missing – from the footage at least – is Vladimir Coufal.

But that is less of a concern given Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson were both seen training.

Their absence from footage does not necessarily mean any or all of them are injured.

They could have picked up bugs or been given a rest if feeling slight niggles.

We won’t know until Lopetegui faces the press.

All eyes now turn to Man United’s line-up and performance out in Turkey to give a better idea of what to expect on Sunday.

If Bowen, Todibo and Soucek were to miss Man United – in addition to Kudus being suspended – the team would look very different.

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that but here’s how Lopetegui might have to line up if that extreme scenario was the case:

Areola or Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Alvarez, Rodriguez, Soler, Paqueta, Summerville, Antonio.

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