Julen Lopetegui is facing a West Ham crisis for the must-win game against Leicester on Tuesday night after an official announcement.
West Ham face a Leicester side which is certain to be fired up in their first game under new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Julen Lopetegui is under immense pressure once again following the ridiculous 5-2 defeat to London rivals Arsenal on Saturday.
The owners have made it clear the next two games are “massive” for Lopetegui’s West Ham future.
Wins are expected against Leicester City and Wolves – two of three sides who have conceded more than the Hammers this season.
Lose them and Lopetegui is highly likely to be sacked by the Hammers.
So there is plenty riding on the trip to the King Power.
There is good news for West Ham ahead of the game with star player Mohammed Kudus back after serving the last of his five-game ban against the Gunners.
This wouldn’t be West Ham without something to worry about ahead of an important game, though.
And it could be huge in deciding the outcome of the crucial Premier League clash.
It’s a crisis for Lopetegui as his worst nightmare could be realised after West Ham’s triple announcement for Leicester.
Crisis for Lopetegui as West Ham’s worst nightmare realised
Speaking in his pre-Leicester press conference, West Ham’s manager revealed £32m defender Jean-Clair Todibo is a major doubt for the game.
Todibo was a doubt for Newcastle but was passed fit to play only to be withdrawn with a stomach issue.
Lopetegui announced Todibo is still feeling the issue after Arsenal.
Now the Frenchman may miss the Leicester clash.
The problem is, West Ham have announced their only other centre-backs are also doubts for the game too.
In the club’s official preview for the Foxes clash, West Ham state that Konstantinos Mavropanos and youngster Kaelan Casey are both doubts too.
Going into the season Lopetegui was concerned that he only had three senior centre-backs following the departures of Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna, Ben Johnson and – on a permanent basis – Thilo Kehrer.
In fact the Spaniard was so worried that West Ham went into the free agent market, handing a trial to John Egan and making enquiries for Mats Hummels and Joel Matip.
Ultimately, though, it was decided West Ham would instead elevate Academy star Casey to the fourth centre-back spot.
West Ham triple announcement for Leicester is huge blow
It was always a big risk to run with just three senior centre-backs.
Especially as Lopetegui likes to have the flexibility of playing with three centre-backs at one time.
Now those fears could be realised for a pivotal game. Because Max Kilman may be the last man standing for the Hammers.
“We had a little problem with [Jean-Clair] Todibo in the last match,” Lopetegui said in his press conference.
“He started having the problem in Newcastle. And he has that same problem. I think it’s not very [severe], but let’s see. We don’t know exactly if he’s going to be available or not.”
In the official team news preview for the game, West Ham state Mavropanos and Casey missed the Arsenal defeat due to being laid low by a virus.
“Defenders Dinos Mavropanos and Kaelan Casey missed Saturday’s Premier League defeat against Arsenal because of a virus,” West Ham confirmed.
Lopetegui’s two options if Hammers trio are ruled out
Lopetegui will just have to hope Mavropanos or Todibo can be passed fit to start.
It might be risky – and a touch unfair – to throw Casey in at the deep end. Especially against an experienced pro like Jamie Vardy.
Ideally Casey would be eased into first team action.
Although sometimes the only way to tell if a young player has what it takes is to throw them in and see if they swim freely.
The obvious solution in a worst case scenario would be for Edson Alvarez to play at centre-back. The Mexican has played there for Ajax and his country in the past.
Another option would be to play Alvarez and Aaron Cresswell either side of Kilman and use Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson as wingbacks.
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