Max Kilman has quietly become one of West Ham United’s most reliable players during the opening weeks of their Championship promotion campaign.
The centre-back has started all eight league matches under Nuno Espírito Santo and completed every minute.
That gives Kilman 720 Championship minutes from a possible 720, according to Opta’s latest player data.
It represents a significant change from last season, when the defender made only 21 Premier League appearances for the Hammers.
Kilman Gives West Ham Defensive Continuity
West Ham’s defensive record is not yet perfect.
Nuno’s side have conceded 11 goals from their opening eight Championship matches, despite sitting second in the table with 15 points.
However, Kilman’s availability has at least given the manager a consistent presence on the left side of central defence.
The 29-year-old has started every league game, including the victories over Wolves, Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Wrexham.
He also scored West Ham’s opening goal of the Championship campaign during the 2-2 draw away at Burnley.
Opta confirms Kilman has made eight appearances, started eight times and accumulated 720 minutes in the division this season.
That kind of availability is particularly useful in a Championship campaign where the fixture schedule can quickly become congested.
West Ham’s next five fixtures include five league matches between 9 and 31 October.
Mavropanos Partnership Developing
Kilman’s consistency has coincided with Dinos Mavropanos becoming one of West Ham’s most influential players.
Mavropanos has provided an unexpected attacking threat, scoring four Championship goals before the international break.
His latest came during the 2-2 draw against Millwall.
The pair have therefore offered Nuno a degree of continuity at centre-back, even if West Ham’s defensive numbers show there is still work to do.
The Hammers have kept two Championship clean sheets so far, against Derby and Wrexham.
They have nevertheless conceded twice against Burnley, Wolves, Bolton and Millwall.
That leaves a clear distinction between individual reliability and collective defensive improvement.
Kilman playing every minute is useful.
It does not mean the defensive unit is already where Nuno needs it to be.
A Different Story From Last Season
Availability was a much bigger issue for Kilman during West Ham’s relegation season.
Opta records only 21 Premier League appearances for the defender in 2025/26.
This campaign has therefore started very differently.
Kilman has been available every week and Nuno has repeatedly trusted him to complete matches rather than rotate or substitute him.
That matters because defensive partnerships generally benefit from repetition.
Positioning, covering runs and communication become easier when the same players consistently operate alongside one another.
West Ham will hope that stability begins to translate into fewer goals conceded once club football resumes.
QPR Starts Important October Run
West Ham return from the international break against Queens Park Rangers at London Stadium on Friday 9 October.
Nuno’s side sit second in the Championship, with the full promotion picture available in our West Ham Championship table guide.
The QPR game is followed quickly by trips to Lincoln City and Swansea City.
That stretch should provide another test of West Ham’s defensive improvement.
Kilman’s record means Nuno has at least had one constant at the back.
Eight matches, eight starts and 720 league minutes make him the only West Ham defender to have played every possible Championship minute so far.
The next step is making that continuity count defensively.
