The new look West Ham midfield appears in pretty good shape compared with seasons of old. The two arrivals in the January window have provided Nuno with a creative and combative combination which had been lacking in his desired formation of two midfielders sitting inside the wingers.
Divine Mukasa and Arne Engels look nailed-on starters and with Kanté and Orford waiting in the wings, there seems little space for either Alvarez or Magassa even if they make their pace with Nuno.
Where does that leave Tomas Soucek? Seventh in line? West Ham’s stalwart has been working his way back from ankle ligament injury and is close to match fitness, as the standard.co.uk confirmed:
“The 31-year-old has now, though, returned to training and is closing in on a return to action after nearly three months on the sidelines.”
However Soucek will be facing up to the reality of life in the Championship with Engels and Mukasa firmly ahead of him on the team sheet : He’s no longer an automatic choice for a start.
Engels, along with Divine Mukasa, is transforming Nuno’s midfield
True enough, he’s not as dynamic as either of the duo who will feature for Nuno, but there’s every chance he may yet have a big role to play in what could be his last season at the club. (His contract expires next summer).
In his first full season as a Hammer, Soucek was used as a more offensive option, his trademark late runs into the box and aerial bravery combined to enable the Czech to net ten goals before Declan Rice decided he wanted some of that. Consequently Moyes pushed Soucek back into a more defensive ‘sitting’ role and his goal tally diminished in the seasons which followed.
There’s every chance now that Soucek can roll back the years and become another goal scoring option on Nuno’s bench for the last third of games if defences prove difficult to unlock.
not 7th, on the list at all. he’ll definitely be preferred to Alavarez and Magassa, at least