West Ham United’s focus is firmly on Bolton Wanderers tonight, but there is already plenty happening around Nuno Espírito Santo’s side before the 8pm kick-off.
A late Bolton team-news change has altered the picture, West Ham have decisions to make in attack and victory could send the Hammers soaring up the Championship table.
Here are today’s main West Ham talking points.
Bolton appeal removes one West Ham advantage
The biggest fresh development has come from the opposition camp.
Bolton captain Josh Sheehan was expected to miss tonight’s match after being sent off during Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Millwall.
That is no longer the case.
Bolton confirmed in their official West Ham match preview that Sheehan’s appeal was successful, clearing the midfielder to play tonight.
ReadWestHam has covered the full Josh Sheehan appeal development after the situation changed.
It matters.
Sheehan has been a regular for Bolton and gives Steven Schumacher an important midfield option back when his squad already has problems elsewhere.
Lewis Brunt and Luca Stephenson are ruled out, while Akin Famewo is doubtful.
That still leaves areas West Ham can exploit, but one of the more significant Bolton absences we expected yesterday has disappeared.
Nuno has an attacking decision to make
West Ham’s own team news is arguably even more interesting.
Taty Castellanos is highly unlikely to start after feeling his hamstring during the 3-0 victory over Derby County.
Pablo could return after his calf issue proved less serious than initially feared, according to The West Ham Way’s latest injury report.
That leaves Joël Piroe as the obvious candidate to lead the attack.
The bigger question is what Nuno puts around him.
Our West Ham predicted XI against Bolton backs Edvin Austbø for his first start after the Norwegian scored and assisted from the bench against Derby.
Divine Mukasa could also move into a more advanced central role.
This is exactly why West Ham needed greater depth before the transfer window closed.
Three games in seven days makes rotation difficult to avoid, especially when Wrexham visit London Stadium on Friday.
Tonight should tell us considerably more about the hierarchy of Nuno’s rebuilt squad.
West Ham have a real chance to attack the Championship summit
There is suddenly something substantial riding on tonight beyond simply winning three league games in succession.
West Ham begin the evening eighth with eight points.
A victory takes them to 11.
As explained in our updated look at the West Ham Championship table permutations, that would guarantee the Hammers finish Tuesday at least second.
It could get even better.
Swansea City currently lead the division on 11 points and travel to Southampton tonight.
If Swansea lose and West Ham win, Nuno’s side could potentially finish the night top of the Championship, depending on goal difference.
West Ham’s +4 goal difference currently trails Swansea’s +6.
It is very early in the season and nobody should attach too much significance to being first or second after six matches.
The trajectory matters more.
West Ham failed to win any of their opening three Championship fixtures.
They can now make it three victories in succession and put themselves directly into the early automatic-promotion picture.
That turnaround explains why Darren Bent’s claim that West Ham failing to win promotion would be a “travesty” has already become a significant talking point.
Away record remains tonight’s warning
There is one reason not to get carried away.
West Ham still have not won a Championship away game this season.
Draws at Burnley and Watford mean both of Nuno’s league victories have arrived at London Stadium.
The wider record is worse.
Our examination of West Ham’s away form found that the club’s last league victory away from home came in March.
Bolton itself carries another unusual piece of history.
West Ham have not won a competitive away game against the Trotters since 1995.
That gives tonight two very different possibilities.
Victory would provide another major sign that this new-look West Ham side is beginning to find its level in the Championship.
Another failure to win away would leave an obvious question unresolved despite the improvement at London Stadium.
What happens next?
The Championship schedule offers no opportunity to dwell on tonight’s result.
Wrexham are already next.
They play Burnley this evening before travelling to London Stadium on Friday, giving ReadWestHam an immediate opportunity to monitor Phil Parkinson’s side for injuries, suspensions and selection clues.
Supporters can already find the West Ham vs Wrexham TV channel and live-stream details ahead of that fixture.
First comes Bolton.
By the end of tonight, West Ham could have their first away win, three consecutive victories and a place inside the Championship’s top two.
That is considerably more than appeared likely little more than a week ago.
