Manager names strong team in France

Nayef Aguerd has been given the captain’s armband for West Ham’s pre-season visit to face his former side, Stade Rennais.

The Moroccan defender enjoyed two seasons at Roazhon Park with the Ligue 1 side, playing European football and making 79 appearances in all competitions before joining the Hammers last summer.

ON his first return to the Brittany capital, the 27-year-old is asked by manager David Moyes to captain a West Ham team packed with senior players as preparations for the 2023/24 campaign continue.

Aguerd is joined in defence by Kurt Zouma, Vladimír Coufal and Emerson, while Alphonse Areola plays in goal for the Hammers, marking the first time that the five have all opened a West Ham United fixture since the UEFA Europa Conference League final in Prague back in June, against ACF Fiorentina.

In midfield, experienced Czech Republic international Tomáš Souček is joined by Flynn Downes, who has particularly impressed in the Irons’ four previous pre-season outings so far.

Lucas Paquetá comes into the starting XI for his first match action of pre-season. The Brazilian No10 is set to step onto the pitch in the Hammers kit for the first time in the summer schedule, after returning to training last week.

Pablo Fornals, Saïd Benrahma and Danny Ings complete the starting XI in West Ham’s penultimate pre-season match of pre-season.

As expected, Aaron Cresswell has not been named in the match day squad nor have Michail Antonio or Ben Johnson who remain on holiday after late international duty.