adminWest Ham United should, on paper, have little to deliberate over regarding team selection this weekend.
The Hammers head into what could be a crucial encounter on Saturday as they travel to face Championship leaders Swansea City.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are two places and four points behind Vitor Matos’ team ahead of the showdown at Swansea.com Stadium.
However, they enter the fixture fresh from a commanding 6-0 thrashing of Lincoln City at Sincil Bank on Wednesday.
Typically, after securing such a convincing victory, a manager would have very little to consider regarding his starting lineup for the next match, provided everyone is available.
Yet, there is one possible selection conundrum, and the solution may already be staring Nuno directly in the face.
Tactical adjustment could resolve potential Nuno dilemma at West Ham
One position that could cause Nuno some concern is who to deploy on the left wing against Swansea.
During the midweek fixture, Edvin Austbo significantly boosted his chances by scoring once and providing an assist in the emphatic win.
It was the second time this season that the 21-year-old Norwegian has scored and assisted after coming off the bench, having achieved the same feat in the victory over Derby County.
However, fellow summer signing Manor Solomon primarily plays on the left and has generally been chosen to start in that position.
There is growing demand for Austbo to receive a consistent run of starts, and there is a feeling that West Ham possess a major attacking asset who is not being used to his full potential.
So, here is the solution for Nuno…simply play both.
On the opposite wing, if Jarrod Bowen is fit, the captain will undoubtedly feature. It is an obvious decision, as he is the first name on the teamsheet.
Solomon, however, can also operate as a number 10, and there is now a compelling case for including all three players in the starting lineup.
West Ham’s forwards have contributed just five league goals this season, with Joel Piroe scoring three, while Pablo and Taty Castellanos have each netted once.
Bowen, Solomon and Austbo all have goals in them, so why continue to restrict their attacking potential? There is certainly a strong argument for getting all three into the side, so why not begin against Swansea?
Who misses out for West Ham in this scenario?
The difficult part of this approach is deciding which player should be left out of the starting eleven.
Pablo scored his first league goal of the campaign against Lincoln, but supporters appreciate him for his work rate and commitment.
Castellanos would have expected to offer a greater goal threat in the second tier, and at present, there is little justification for handing him a starting role.
Piroe appears to be the striker most likely to find the net when given a starting opportunity, meaning the Leeds United loanee should be included.
Furthermore, he has an established understanding with Solomon, with the pair playing influential roles in helping Leeds secure promotion from the second tier during the 2024/25 campaign.
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