They say never change a winning team but Graham Potter is going to be forced to when West Ham take on bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium.
West Ham are back in Premier League action after the international break and they don’t come much bigger than Spurs.
The Hammers have a vastly inferior record to Tottenham in the long history of this particular London derby with 67 wins to Spurs’ 102 while there have been 56 draws.
West Ham have not lost at home to Tottenham Hotspur in six years, though.
Graham Potter will be looking to maintain that record as the Irons aim to build some momentum off the back of the superb 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest last time out.
Potter admitted the international break came at a bad time for his side after that much-needed victory.
All eyes on Kudus and Potter’s West Ham team selection
Meanwhile Spurs face the Hammers off the back of losing 1-0 at home to Bournemouth in their last game.
A journalist has revealed what Mohammed Kudus privately thinks about facing West Ham with Spurs.
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Kudus is set to be the big sub-plot to what promises to be a feisty derby where bragging rights are everything.
Despite the encouraging result at Forest, West Ham fans were left furious with the club’s owners on deadline day when they failed to make any other additions besides defender Igor Julio on a straight loan from Brighton.
Talk heading into the last day of the window was that the Hammers were targeting a centre-back, another midfielder and a striker as well as a goalkeeper.
Spurs meanwhile brought in Dutch midfield star Xavi Simons in a £51m deal and PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan to finish off their summer business, which included the controversial signing of Kudus from West Ham.
West Ham’s excellent result and performance coupled with Tottenham’s defeat – in which they were booed by their fans – means this game promises to be more competitive than it would have been a few weeks ago.
Team selection and tactics will be absolutely pivotal.
Potter has been given a leg-up after a Tottenham coach was overhead revealing key tactics for the West Ham clash.
As the rivals count down to the 5.30pm kick-off at the London Stadium, all eyes turn to Potter’s starting XI.
The predicted West Ham team for Spurs sees Potter forced into two big changes.
West Ham looked defensively solid for the first time this season after switching to a back four when they won at the City Ground.
Potter forced into two big changes for Spurs?
But some Hammers fans are concerned Potter may be tempted to revert to three at the back and wingbacks for the visit of Tottenham.
Potter would undoubtedly like to adhere to the old saying ‘never change a winning team’ but has little choice after the events of the international break.
Striker Niclas Fullkrug picked up a new calf injury while away with Germany.
He returned early to east London without kicking a ball for Die Mannschaft.
Potter insists the injury is nothing too serious and Fullkrug has been seen in light training ahead of the Spurs game.
It seems highly unlikely the German will be risked this soon, though, given he spent six of the nine months of last season on the sidelines with calf problems.
Potter cast doubt on Fullkrug’s involvement vs Spurs in his pre-match press conference.
But he also stated it may be too soon for Callum Wilson to start given he is still playing catch-up from a lack of pre-season action after leaving Newcastle.
Who should replace Fullkrug is the biggest dilemma for Potter and one which will likely result in another big change to the team.
Given the manager’s comments it seems logical that captain Jarrod Bowen or in-form Lucas Paqueta will start up front in place of Fullkrug.
Paqueta actually played the false nine role excellently in the cup defeat at Wolves, scoring one of the four goals he already has to his name this season.
Bowen offers West Ham so much off the right we think the Brazilian magnifico will get the nod from Potter to start up top.
That would require someone to take Paqueta’s place in the middle.
Potter can then move the brilliant Mateus Fernandes inside – if he resists the temptation to play it safe and start Guido Rodriguez.
There is also the option of throwing Soungoutou Magassa straight in for his debut, but that seems unlikely.
Fullkrug out, Paqueta up top and big decision Summerville?
With Fernandes moving inside, West Ham will need to bring someone in to play out on the left.
That begs the big question whether Potter feels game-changing Crysencio Summerville is fit enough to start against Spurs.
The flying Dutchman was the key to West Ham’s win at Forest, playing a big hand in all three goals.
Summerville got the assist for Bowen, won the penalty for Paqueta to convert and then started the move on the break which saw Wilson head home.
Another surprise option could be Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The full-back was dropped last time out with Kyle Walker-Peters playing well in his stead.
Wan-Bissaka can play left or right and could be deployed in front of El Hadji Malick Diouf to give West Ham extra security and pace against Kudus.
That would then allow Potter to bring Summerville on in the hope he can have the same devastating impact from the bench.
Given what is at stake – and providing the medical team are happy there is no increased risk from starting as opposed to coming on as sub – we hope Potter goes with Summerville from the start.
It gives Thomas Frank something to think about and will keep Spurs pinned back knowing West Ham have Summerville one side and Bowen the other.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Spurs:
Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Paqueta.
Official teams will be announced at 4.15pm.