Julen Lopetegui has announced his West Ham United lineup for Saturday’s 2024 Betway Cup clash against RC Celta de Vigo at London Stadium, opting to bench James Ward-Prowse in favour of new signing Guido Rodríguez.
The Hammers are set to host the La Liga side in East London for the eighth edition of the fixture, marking the first time the Betway Cup has been held since 2021.
Fans can watch the match live on West Ham’s YouTube channel, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.
Jarrod Bowen has been named Captain which we feel is the strongest possible hint that he will be the club captain for 2024/5.
Celta, based in the northwestern Spanish city of Vigo, have been consistent competitors in their domestic top flight for the past three decades and have also seen success on the continental stage, notably reaching the semi-finals of the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League.
Head Coach Lopetegui has named a strong starting XI for his first home match in charge of the Irons, which also serves as the team’s final warm-up before the Premier League campaign kicks off against Aston Villa next weekend.
On the bench, Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Füllkrug are eager to make their debuts in Claret and Blue. A total of 15 players have been named on the bench, including first-team regulars Łukasz Fabiański, Aaron Cresswell, James Ward-Prowse, Luis Guilherme, Danny Ings, Maxwell Cornet, Nayef Aguerd, and Andy Irving.
The Academy of Football is well represented, with goalkeeper Finlay Herrick, along with George Earthy, Kaelan Casey, Gideon Kodua, and Freddie Potts, all available as options for the Head Coach.
West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Rodríguez, Souček, Paquetá, Bowen ©, Kudus, Antonio
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Herrick (GK), Cresswell, Summerville, Ward-Prowse, Füllkrug, Luis Guilherme, Ings, Cornet, Aguerd, Irving, Earthy, Casey, Kodua, Potts
RC Celta de Vigo: Ivan Villar, Starfelt, Carreira, Iglesias, Beltrán, Aspas ©, Jailson, Bamba, Mihailo, Manquillo, Damian
Subs: Vidal (GK), Cesar (GK), Mingueza, Illaix, Aidoo, Williot, Carlos, Durán, Alvarez, Alfon, Rodríguez, Sotelo
No Foderingham?
Injured
Bowen as Captain. Brilliant