West Ham United have confirmed their starting XI for this afternoon’s Championship clash with Watford, with Nuno Espírito Santo handing Divin Mukasa a starting role at Vicarage Road.
Mukasa joins Jarrod Bowen, Manor Solomon and Valentín Castellanos in an attacking West Ham side as the Hammers chase their first league victory of the season.
There is also a start for Airidas Golambeckis in defence, while Lewis Orford, Joël Piroe and Josh Ajala are among the substitutes despite impressing during Tuesday’s 4-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton.
West Ham XI vs Watford
West Ham starting XI: Hermansen; Veltman, Kilman, Golambeckis, Walker-Peters; Kanté, Engels; Bowen, Solomon, Mukasa; Castellanos.
Substitutes: Herrick, Piroe, Pablo, Lamadrid, Scarles, Casey, Orford, Mayers, Ajala.
The selection appears likely to operate in a 4-2-3-1, with N’Golo Kanté and Arne Engels providing the midfield base behind West Ham’s attacking quartet.
Nuno’s decision to start Mukasa is particularly eye-catching after several academy players made their case for further minutes in midweek.
Orford had been pushing strongly for inclusion, with our predicted West Ham XI against Watford examining whether his Southampton performance could earn him a Championship start.
Instead, he begins on the bench alongside Ajala and Piroe, giving Nuno plenty of attacking options if West Ham need to change the game.
West Ham head to Vicarage Road with one point from their opening two league fixtures and looking to build on their emphatic Southampton cup victory. The fixture kicks off at 3pm BST.
The Hammers also arrive with an excellent recent record in this fixture, having won five consecutive meetings with Watford.
Supporters unable to attend can find the latest Watford vs West Ham TV and live-stream information. West Ham TV is providing live video in eligible overseas territories and worldwide audio coverage.
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