---
title: "Virals: West Ham stars prepare for Europa League opener"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/09/15/virals-west-ham-stars-prepare-for-europa-league-opener/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-09-15T11:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-09-15T11:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham stars prepare for Europa League opener

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/09/14/virals-west-ham-reportedly-set-100m-plus-price-tag-on-declan-rice/) have been stepping up their preparations ahead of an opening Europa League clash on Thursday night.

The Hammers are set to head out to Croatia to [face Dinamo Zagreb](https://www.whufc.com/fixtures/first-team/fixtures-and-results) as a reward for a superb sixth-place Premier League finish last season.

Irons’ boss David Moyes faces a selection dilemma for the clash as Michail Antonio is available for the trip despite being [suspended](https://www.football.london/wehttps://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/west-ham-antonio-red-card-21546398st-ham-united-fc/news/west-ham-antonio-red-card-21546398) domestically.

> Twitter: ![😁](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f601.svg)![😁](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f601.svg)![😁](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f601.svg) https://t.co/xIkmkeKGf0 (@WestHam)

Elsewhere, club insider ExWHUemployee has told [The West Ham Way Podcast](https://www.patreon.com/posts/twhw-podcast-new-56084979) that new signing Nikola Vlasic could be in line to feature as a centre-forward in the 31-year-old’s absence.

Whether or not Moyes decides to trial the new look or [goes full strength](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad) with Antonio is perhaps the biggest question facing the Scot.

> Twitter: 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱.
>
> ![📸](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f4f8.svg) @NikolaVlai https://t.co/nNeeJNoKg1 (@WestHam)

Vlasic made a debut on Saturday from the bench, whilst the likes of [Jarrod Bowen](https://readwestham.com/2021/09/01/pundit-labels-west-ham-ace-jarrod-bowen-a-world-beater/), Said Benrahma and Andriy Yarmolenko could all make a case for a chance to shine up front.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

This truly is a difficult call for Moyes in Croatia.

Antonio clearly represents the least risk as an [in-form](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michail-antonio/leistungsdaten/spieler/104124) tried and tested centre-froward in the West Ham system.

But, with [Manchester United to come](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/25/West-Ham-United/fixtures) on Sunday, there will be a temptation to give Vlasic a run from the start in the centre – if indeed that is the long-term replacement option.

Getting off to a strong start in perhaps the [most difficult fixture in the group](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/026c-13193891479a-628cf7729793-1000--europa-league-group-draw/) is important for the Hammers’ chances of progressing, therefore starting with Antonio should be the option.