Common sense dictates that it would be folly to re-introduce Tomas Soucek to the West Ham side just one game ahead of the international break, with another three weeks available after the final whistle in order to complete his rehabilitation. The midfielder has been missing since his ankle ligament injury in June at the World Cup and now finds himself part of a very different Hammers midfield.
West Ham are awash with midfield options – if Nuno decided to use all the players at his disposal rather than consigning them to ‘exile’, the Irons currently have Mukasa and Engels as their starters with Kanté, Orford, Soungoutou Magassa and Edson Alvarez all fit and ready to hit the ground running.
Positively overflowing with midfield options, so why risk Soucek’s three month recovery?
Three months of rehab may get Soucek on the bench today
Suggestions are, though, that he might make the bench as a much needed wise old hand perfect for today’s highly charged occasion. He’d certainly be a welcome addition to the dressing room leadership core.
But sending Soucek on – whether the Irons are in need of a goal late-on or a rearguard defensive battle to hang on for the last ten minutes – doesn’t make sense even if he’s 95% fit.
Today’s game may be pivotal in the lives of the supporters – the first derby game in over a decade is hugely anticipated – but there are still 38 games remaining after today’s clash at The Den and it is more important to see Soucek fit and raring to go when battle re-commences in October.
So whilst he might make the squad he’s unlikely to have a meaningful part to play other than – perhaps – a couple of minutes at the end if the Hammers are strolling it. Which would be magnificent on several counts.