West Ham United return to London Stadium on Friday night looking to make it four consecutive Championship victories against Wrexham.
Nuno Espírito Santo rotated his side for Tuesday’s 3-2 win at Bolton Wanderers, but the short turnaround presents another selection decision.
Joel Piroe, Manor Solomon and Joël Veltman could all return to the starting XI.
Taty Castellanos remains the major uncertainty after missing the Bolton victory with the hamstring problem he suffered against Derby County.
The latest available team-news previews continue to treat Castellanos as a doubt rather than declaring him available, with Sports Mole’s West Ham vs Wrexham preview suggesting the Argentine may not be risked.
Piroe could lead the West Ham attack
Piroe was left on the bench at Bolton as Pablo Felipe started through the middle.
That could leave the summer signing fresh enough to return against Wrexham.
Piroe has already shown his value since joining West Ham and offers Nuno a proven Championship goalscorer if Castellanos remains unavailable.
A return would also allow Pablo to drop back to the bench after starting in Lancashire.
West Ham Zone have also predicted Piroe will come back into the team for Friday’s match.
We would make the same call.
Solomon deserves West Ham recall
Manor Solomon is another player who could return.
The winger started the 3-0 victory over Derby before being rested from the XI at Bolton, where Edvin Austbø was handed an opportunity.
Austbø continues to give Nuno another exciting option, but Solomon remains one of West Ham’s more experienced attacking players.
Bringing him back on the left would give the Hammers a front line of Solomon, Divine Mukasa and Jarrod Bowen behind Piroe.
Bowen is effectively undroppable after scoring twice against Bolton.
The captain has now played a decisive role during West Ham’s three-game winning run and will again be the biggest attacking threat on Friday.
Veltman could replace Walker-Peters
The third change could come at right-back.
Kyle Walker-Peters started against Bolton after Joël Veltman had been used in the 3-0 home victory over Derby.
Veltman then came from the bench on Tuesday and supplied the assist for Bowen’s winning goal.
With Nuno able to rotate again when Fulham visit in the Carabao Cup next Tuesday, there is little reason to hold players back for Friday’s Championship fixture.
We therefore expect Veltman to return alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman and Ollie Scarles.
Sky Sports’ Derby team sheet confirms Veltman started the previous Championship game at London Stadium.
Engels and Kante can keep midfield places
Arne Engels should retain his place.
The Belgian supplied the set-piece for Mavropanos’ equaliser against Bolton and has quickly become a central figure under Nuno.
Mohamadou Kanté also has a strong case to continue after starting at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Keeping Kanté deeper would release Mukasa into the more advanced position where his creativity can support Piroe.
That would mean only three changes from Tuesday despite the demanding schedule.
Wrexham are unlikely to be straightforward opponents either.
They have taken seven points from their last three Championship matches, while their recent 3-0 victory away at Millwall demonstrated their threat on the road.
ReadWestHam has already looked at Wrexham’s unbeaten run before facing West Ham.
Nuno should therefore resist the temptation to rotate heavily.
ReadWestHam predicted West Ham XI vs Wrexham
Hermansen; Veltman, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles; Kanté, Engels; Bowen, Mukasa, Solomon; Piroe.
Changes from Bolton: Veltman, Solomon and Piroe in. Walker-Peters, Austbø and Pablo out.
