West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has a host of selection issues for Leicester in what could be his last roll of the dice.
Lose to Leicester City at the King Power and Julen Lopetegui could be sacked by West Ham.
Defeat to one of only three sides worse at the back than the Hammers, doesn’t bear thinking about.
Leicester City were battered 4-1 at Brentford at the weekend.
Meanwhile West Ham were thrashed 5-2 by Arsenal.
The club’s owners have told Lopetegui the next two games are “massive”.
After the shock win at Newcastle, the board wanted to see proof the Hammers had turned a corner.
Instead they went around the corner and straight into a brick wall against the Gunners.
The latest embarrassing capitulation has seen co-owner David Sullivan activate his West Ham plan B.
That – if a journalist close to the majority owner is to be believed – is for the Hammers to appoint Sergio Conceicao as Lopetegui’s successor.
Lopetegui risks wrath of fans with 1 of 3 West Ham changes
So the Spaniard is under no illusions how much is at stake when West Ham take on Leicester at the King Power.
That’s why he simply must get his team selection and tactics right.
And that is something Lopetegui has seriously struggled with since arriving in east London.
So much so he often has to make several changes at half-time.
Lopetegui has a host of selection dilemmas and headaches for the Leicester game.
West Ham have revealed there’s a defensive crisis brewing.
Jean-Clair Todibo is a doubt according to the manager himself.
West Ham have also confirmed that his back-up Konstantinos Mavropanos is a doubt with a virus as is the big Greek’s own back-up.
Only at West Ham.
The big hope will be that Mavropanos will be able to shake off his bug if Todibo doesn’t make it.
Lopetegui must decide whether to bring Alphonse Areola back into the side after Lukasz Fabianski’s struggles against Arsenal.
Defensive issues could force Lopetegui into change
Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville give the head coach the biggest problem to confront, though.
Kudus is back from suspension and surely walks straight back into the side.
West Ham fans want to see him played centrally, instead of Paqueta, with Summerville staying in the team on the left.
But we think Lopetegui will risk the wrath of fans with one of three big West Ham changes for Leicester.
With Todibo struggling to make the game according to the manager himself, Mavropanos will replace him if he can shake off his virus.
Failing that Edson Alvarez may have to deputise at the back.
We think Kudus will be back in the starting XI.
But rather than dropping Paqueta, fan favourite Summerville will be the one to suffer.
If that is the case then West Ham fans will not be happy one bit.
Given many of them are calling for Lopetegui’s head, it’s a risky move.
There are murmurings the West Ham boss may try something else fans have wanted to see, though.
And it would be a much more popular move.
Summerville or Antonio dropped as Kudus returns for Hammers
Because Lopetegui might be finally ready to try Kudus up front.
That would see Paqueta replaced by either Alvarez or Guido Rodriguez for balance.
It would also keep Summerville in the team.
Michail Antonio was really poor against Arsenal and simply can’t play three games this close together.
A front three of the Dutchman, Jarrod Bowen and Kudus would terrify most defences. There is pace, power and skill in abundance. But not much height.
The call on the goalkeeper could go either way. Areola was dropped after a couple of poor performances so maybe Fabianski will keep his place.
Predicted West Ham starting XI for Leicester if Lopetegui drops Antonio for Kudus:
Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos or Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Soucek, Alvarez or Rodriguez, Soler, Summerville, Bowen, Kudus.
Predicted West Ham starting XI for Leicester if Lopetegui drops Summerville for Kudus:
Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos or Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Soucek, Paqueta, Soler, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio.
The official West Ham team will be announced at 7pm ahead of the 8.15pm kick-off.
Leicester vs West Ham is live on Amazon Prime.
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