It could be a day of numerous debuts when Graham Potter’s West Ham United host bitter Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s 5.30 kick-off.
While Potter weighs up handing Callum Wilson a first start in a claret and blue shirt, Soungoutou Magassa and Igor Julio may feature for West Ham after joining late in the summer window.
The visitors, meanwhile, should have Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani available.
Xavi, one of the finest young attackers on the continent, joined in a £51 million deal from RB Leipzig. France international Kolo Muani arrives on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, with Frank highlighting the flexibility of a forward who can play all across the attack.
But after Potter admitted that Niclas Fullkrug is a doubt for Saturday’s derby – West Ham United could be without their first-choice striker after the German picked up a calf injury – Frank confirms that Tottenham will make the 12 mile journey without their £65 million record signing, Dominic Solanke.
Thomas Frank rules Dominic Solanke out of Tottenham’s West Ham United clash
Solanke appeared in Tottenham’s first three matches of the new campaign before an ankle problem which ruled him out of the 1-0 defeat by AFC Bournemouth before the international break.
Richarlison is likely to start up top again, then, although the Brazilian has made an excellent start to the season.
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“Everyone is fine, everyone returned from international duties well so that’s always positive. Very happy about that,” Frank said, albeit Spurs are still without long-term absentees Radu Dragusin, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
“Dom will not be available still. I don’t expect it to be too long [before he returns] but he will not be available for this game.
“I think right now we are doing everything we can – the medical team – to get on top of it and that’s what we’re focusing on. I get a feeling he is not too far away, but he’s just fallen short for this week.
“Both [Xavi and Kolo Muani] are looking good,” the former Brentford boss adds while predicting Mohammed Kudus will face a ‘hostile’ reception on his return to West Ham.
“Both of them are definitely in contention to be ready for the squad. Xavi, for natural reasons, is further down the line. He just started the first game for Holland and played a few games for Leipzig.
“Definitely in terms of Randal, it’s been a while since he’s played. Last time was in the Club World Cup. Hasn’t trained really with PSG. So he is not as fit as Xavi, but he looks good.
“Xavi, I see him mainly as a ten or a left-sided player or left winger. Whereas Kolo, I can see him playing as striker and he can play both wings, I would say.”
Potter says Crysencio Summerville gives West Ham ‘another dimension’
Graham Potter can enjoy the luxury of his own selection dilemma, with Crysencio Summerville in contention for a first start since January.
The self-confident Summerville is determined to belatedly prove his worth at West Ham, while the head coach feels one of the few genuinely jet-heeled players in his squad can offer a different sort of ‘dimension’ in the final third.
“It’s great to have him. [Summerville] gives us another dimension,” Potter said during his press conference on Thursday. “It’s been a long road with setbacks, so credit to him. He’s shown that mental strength.
“Now, we just need to help him enjoy his football because, if we do that, he is a big help for us.”