One out, three doubts | Early season dilemma as transfer window shortcomings haunt West Ham

A three week break for international football has created something of a two – tier squad with most rested, some rinsed. Four games in twelve days that Dinos Mavropanos and Manor Solomon have endured for their national sides is likley to have left them cream-crackered ahead of a restart of domestic football, whilst their team mates were given ‘recovery’ time off.

Two weeks of carefully planned training and a behind closed doors kick about leaves the main squad raring to go but two of the ‘foreign legion’, who were out racking up huge minutes on the pitch, have left Nuno with a selection headache for the Queens Park Rangers tie as they desperately need a couple of days off.

Solomon and Mavropanos, of the Hammers who were on Nations League duty played the most and would seem the most in need of a break, both having suffered minor reported injuries, but West Ham can ill afford to do without them.

In addition Nuno will -reportedly- likely still be without Joel Veltman at right back and no Mohamadou Kanté who is  suspended  following his red card against Millwall.

Of all the absentees, Kanté is probably the easiest to deal with with an overspill of midfield talent available now that Soucek is fit again and Alvarez, along with Magassa appear to have been re-integrated into Nuno’s good books.

With a trip to Lincoln City just five days later, Nuno will have to decide whether his squad can overcome QPR without Mavropanos and Solomon in the starting line up.

Austbø has proven that he’s ready to step up with a goal and an assist already to his name, but – a starting XI without Mavropanos? The defender has been recognised as one of the ‘Nations League team of the tournament so far‘ so it’d be a brave decision to leave the Greek out.

The Irons’ shortage of a centre-back option could yet come back to bite them with their deadline-day signing Morato now press-ganged into use as a left back, leaving the cupboard pretty bare. Golambeckis has to step up to more league football sometime – Friday could well be his time to shine.