West Ham United finally found a winning Championship formula against Wolves, and Nuno Espírito Santo now has to decide whether to interfere with it against Derby County.
Deadline Day arrivals Morato and Adama Boiro have increased the competition in defence, but the Hammers scored four on Tuesday and Divine Mukasa produced the performance of his young career.
Our West Ham predicted XI vs Derby therefore features no changes from the team that won 4-2 at London Stadium.
Nuno should keep faith with Wolves XI
The temptation to immediately involve West Ham’s newest signings is understandable.
Morato arrived from Nottingham Forest to strengthen a defence that is yet to keep a Championship clean sheet, while Boiro provides another natural option on the left.
West Ham’s own pre-match information for the Derby fixture confirms Saturday’s 3pm meeting at London Stadium.
But Nuno does not need to change things simply because new players are available.
West Ham have spent much of the opening month searching for a combination that works.
Against Wolves, they finally found one.
Mads Hermansen should therefore continue in goal, with Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Ollie Scarles retaining their places across the defence.
There is a strong argument for Morato eventually forcing his way into that back line.
Saturday may simply be too soon.
Divine Mukasa has made himself undroppable
The easiest decision should concern Mukasa.
The Manchester City loanee scored twice against Wolves and was central to West Ham securing their first Championship victory of the season.
We argued after the game that Mukasa had given Nuno a selection decision he could no longer ignore.
Dropping him four days later would make little sense.
Mukasa should continue alongside Arne Engels, who also offered West Ham greater energy and control in midfield against Wolves.
Jarrod Bowen and Manor Solomon provide the threat from wider areas, while Pablo and Joël Piroe deserve another opportunity together further forward.
That would leave Valentín Castellanos among an increasingly strong group of substitutes.
It is a nice problem for Nuno to have.
Morato can still make West Ham debut
Keeping the same starting XI would not mean West Ham’s Deadline Day additions are unimportant.
Quite the opposite.
West Ham conceded twice against Wolves and were fortunate not to fall behind during a difficult opening half-hour.
Nuno himself admitted after the victory that West Ham still have considerable room for improvement.
Morato could therefore become particularly useful if West Ham need greater defensive control later in Saturday’s game.
Boiro also gives Nuno an alternative to Scarles.
The difference is that West Ham no longer need to throw new signings immediately into the starting XI because of a lack of alternatives.
They can earn their places.
West Ham predicted XI vs Derby
Formation: 4-4-2
GK: Mads Hermansen
RB: Kyle Walker-Peters
CB: Konstantinos Mavropanos
CB: Max Kilman
LB: Ollie Scarles
RM: Jarrod Bowen
CM: Divine Mukasa
CM: Arne Engels
LM: Manor Solomon
ST: Pablo
ST: Joël Piroe
West Ham’s full Derby preview details why Saturday represents an important opportunity to build momentum.
Nuno finally has options throughout his squad.
For once, his best decision may be resisting the temptation to use them immediately.
