West Ham United begin their competitive season against Portsmouth on Saturday, and the biggest question in our West Ham vs Portsmouth predicted XI comes in central midfield.
Nuno Espírito Santo has decisions across the pitch after an unbeaten pre-season, but Tomáš Souček remains unavailable with an ankle injury. Freddie Potts has also left the club, reducing the manager’s options before the Carabao Cup first-round tie at London Stadium.
West Ham officially list the Portsmouth tie for Saturday 8 August at 3pm, giving Nuno an early opportunity to settle the side he could eventually take into the Championship campaign. West Ham’s official fixture information confirms the date and kick-off time
West Ham vs Portsmouth predicted XI: Orford gets opportunity
Mads Hermansen should start in goal after establishing himself as Nuno’s first-choice goalkeeper during pre-season.
Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Maximilian Kilman and Ollie Scarles make up our predicted back four. Walker-Peters and Kilman have accumulated substantial minutes this summer, while Scarles deserves another opportunity before El Hadji Malick Diouf pushes for a regular place.
The more difficult decision comes ahead of them.
Mohamadou Kanté should start, but Souček’s absence leaves Nuno needing to find the right partner. James Ward-Prowse provides experience and excellent set-piece delivery, although Lewis Orford offers greater mobility and could help West Ham move possession through midfield more quickly.
Potts would previously have been part of the conversation. However, ReadWestHam reported on Tuesday that the academy graduate has completed his permanent move to Club Brugge, leaving another opening for Orford to establish himself.
A midfield pairing of Kanté and Orford would be young, but Portsmouth provides an opportunity to discover whether it can work before the Championship begins.
Pablo could get new West Ham role
Jarrod Bowen remains an automatic selection on the right, while Keiber Lamadrid deserves the opportunity to start from the opposite flank.
talkSPORT also identifies Lamadrid as a player who could make his competitive West Ham debut against Portsmouth, while confirming Souček is expected to miss the fixture. talkSPORT’s latest West Ham v Portsmouth team news
Pablo could then become the interesting selection behind Taty Castellanos.
ReadWestHam reported on Wednesday that Nuno is considering using Pablo in a deeper attacking position rather than relying on him solely as a centre-forward. Portsmouth looks like a sensible opportunity to test that idea competitively.
Castellanos should lead the line after featuring regularly throughout pre-season. Bowen, Pablo and Lamadrid behind him would also give West Ham several players capable of changing positions during attacks.
Nuno does not need Saturday’s starting XI to become permanent immediately. However, with competitive football beginning, the experimentation of pre-season is almost over.
Predicted West Ham XI vs Portsmouth
Hermansen; Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles; Kanté, Orford; Bowen, Pablo, Lamadrid; Castellanos.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
