---
title: "West Ham line-up vs Bolton confirmed as Austbø starts and Pablo returns"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2026/09/08/west-ham-lineup-vs-bolton-austbo-pablo/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Chettle"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2026-09-08T18:02:06Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T17:33:29Z"
---

# West Ham line-up vs Bolton confirmed as Austbø starts and Pablo returns

West Ham United have confirmed their starting XI to face Bolton Wanderers, with Edvin Austbø handed his first start for the club and Pablo returning to lead the attack.

Nuno Espírito Santo makes **four changes** from the side that beat Derby County 3-0 on Saturday, with Kyle Walker-Peters, Mohamadou Kanté, Austbø and Pablo coming into the team.

Joël Veltman, Manor Solomon and Joël Piroe drop to the bench, while Taty Castellanos is absent from the matchday squad after suffering a hamstring problem against Derby.

The Hammers kick off at the Toughsheet Community Stadium at 8pm tonight.

> Named for the night shift 📋 [pic.twitter.com/8xgCUSHotd](https://t.co/8xgCUSHotd)
>
> — West Ham United (@WestHam) [September 8, 2026](https://x.com/WestHam/status/2097380844394438707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## Austbø earns first West Ham start

Austbø’s inclusion is the headline selection.

The £10million summer signing produced a goal and an assist after coming off the bench against Derby and has now been rewarded with his first West Ham start.

His immediate impact had already led ReadWestHam to look at [why Austbø had given Nuno a major selection decision](https://readwestham.com/2026/09/07/edvin-austbo-west-ham-first-goal-reaction/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) before tonight’s game.

He is expected to operate from the left, with Jarrod Bowen on the opposite flank and Pablo through the middle.

Pablo’s return is another significant development.

The striker missed Derby after reporting a calf problem shortly before kick-off, but [West Ham’s latest injury picture](https://readwestham.com/2026/09/07/west-ham-injury-news-bolton/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) suggested the issue was precautionary and that he could return against Bolton.

He has recovered sufficiently to start.

Castellanos, however, has not made the bench after feeling his hamstring against Derby. The injury was not thought to be serious, but tonight has clearly come too soon. Earlier reporting from The West Ham Way indicated he was [highly unlikely to start at Bolton](https://www.thewesthamway.com/2026/09/08/calf-issue-exwhuemployee-hammers-injury-update-ahead-of-bolton/?utm_source=chatgpt.com).

## West Ham starting XI vs Bolton

**West Ham XI:** Hermansen; Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles; Engels, Kanté, Mukasa; Bowen, Austbø, Pablo.

**Substitutes:** Herrick, Morato, Piroe, Solomon, Adama, Lamadrid, Veltman, Orford, Ajala.

The selection appears likely to give West Ham a 4-3-3 shape, with Kanté joining Arne Engels and Divine Mukasa in midfield.

Kanté also earns his opportunity after scoring as a substitute in the Derby victory.

Nuno has resisted making wholesale defensive changes despite the congested schedule, keeping Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Ollie Scarles in the side while Walker-Peters replaces Veltman at right-back.

There is also no place in the XI for Piroe despite his goal against Derby.

West Ham enter tonight looking for a third consecutive Championship victory and could finish the evening at least second if they win. Our [Championship table guide explains exactly how high West Ham can climb tonight](https://readwestham.com/2026/09/07/where-west-ham-sit-in-championship-table-before-crucial-bolton-trip/?utm_source=chatgpt.com).

Bolton have received their own late boost after Josh Sheehan’s red-card appeal succeeded, as covered in our latest Bolton team-news update.