If the rumours are true and Jarrod Bowen and Jean-Clair Todibo face a late fitness test for the Everton game on Saturday, that’d be a huge blow for the Hammers’ chances: With Bowen injured and Kudus suspended, our two top scorers would be absent for a must-win game.
Summerville will surely get a continued opportunity to shine on the left barring another ‘head coach brain fart’ of starting Soler as a left winger.
If the Hammers’ skipper really is absent then there will be a golden opportunity for West Ham’s youngster – largely ignored to date – Luis Guilherme to show-off his true potential on the right hand side. Even if Bowen plays, Guilherme must surely get some minutes rather than expecting Bowen to carry a knock for a full 90.
The alternative of a starting XI with a four-man midfield 4-4-2 with Antonio and Summerville playing ahead of Paquetá, Soler, Rodriguez and Soucek might be a more conservative starting point if Lopetegui feels like addressing the ‘don’t concede in the first half’ issues already raised today.
The Brazilian will likely get an opportunity tomorrow at some stage – maybe with the head coach’s now customary ‘plan B’ half time rejig. Bowen’s injury, if bad enough to keep him out, will pretty much force Lopetegui to deploy Guilherme.
This the player who has been described as the fastest thing on two legs in the Premier League. Hopefully more than a ten minute cameo.
Having seen the way Guilherme has been buzzing in training videos I would love to see his pace on the right and Summerville on the left. It would be interesting watching Michail Antonio as a central attacker trying to keep up with one of these two speedsters on the march: Will Lopetegui offer the Brazilian teenager this opportunity? I hope so. There could be something to look forward to on Saturday after all.
