By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United
EFL Championship
Tuesday 8 September – 8pm
West Ham travel to Bolton Wanderers looking for a third consecutive victory, although injuries to Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos could force Nuno Espírito Santo into a significant change.
The 3-0 victory over Derby County changed a lot, although the previous win against Wolverhampton Wanderers was probably the key result.
Judging by the words of Nuno and his players, this West Ham team is starting to click. They are learning each other’s nuances and habits, which was always going to take time.
It is worth remembering that West Ham conducted much of their transfer business very late in the window. Nuno did not have a full pre-season to bed his new team in, and four of the starting XI against Derby were summer signings.
We are watching a very new West Ham side being assembled during competitive matches.
Following the 4-2 victory over Wolves and Saturday’s comfortable win against Derby, the mood has completely lifted.
The Hammers now have an excellent opportunity to continue building momentum and record a third consecutive victory.
Kante could be drafted back into the team.
Nuno may need to start rotating
Nuno will need to rotate at some point, particularly with West Ham playing twice a week.
Indeed, the brutal Championship schedule is already beginning to impact both West Ham and Bolton.
Joël Veltman is 34 and cannot be expected to play every midweek and weekend. This feels like the obvious occasion to give him a rest and restore Kyle Walker-Peters at right-back.
I would not have any concerns about the fitness of Divine Mukasa and Arne Engels. They are only 19 and 22 respectively and should be capable of handling the schedule.
More importantly, their midfield partnership is beginning to look extremely important.
Engels produced his best performance in a West Ham shirt against Derby and was arguably Man of the Match. I’ve already admitted that the £22m Belgian is starting to prove my early doubts wrong.
Mukasa is already integral to the way West Ham play and has quickly established himself as one of Nuno’s most influential players.
I would certainly partner them again at Bolton.
Austbo scored for West Ham but will he get the nod over Solomon
Striker injuries could force a change
Nuno’s formation may depend on the availability of Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos.
Pablo suffered a knock in the warm-up against Derby and never made the starting XI, while Castellanos subsequently limped off.
I’m basing my predicted team on the assumption that neither striker will be fit.
If both miss the game, Joël Piroe will almost certainly lead the line on his own.
Piroe did not do a huge amount against Derby, but he scored — and that is exactly what he is there to do.
If West Ham switch to one striker, there will be room for a third central midfielder. Lewis Orford deserves an opportunity, but Mohamadou Kanté’s goal on Saturday may have tipped the scales in his favour.
That would allow Nuno to select Kanté behind Mukasa and Engels, providing West Ham with a well-balanced three-man midfield.
Austbø deserves his first start
Edvin Austbø probably deserves to start after his performance from the bench against Derby.
The Norwegian immediately looked lively and marked his home debut with a goal before setting up Kanté for the third.
However, Manor Solomon also played well, which leaves Nuno with a welcome selection dilemma.
That competition is precisely what West Ham need. Austbø may have done enough to earn a full debut, but I suspect Nuno will retain Solomon and use the Norwegian from the bench again.
Bowen will continue on the right, where his efficiency remains one of West Ham’s biggest weapons. Even when the captain is relatively quiet, he always appears capable of producing a decisive goal or assist.
Boiro should replace Scarles
I would start Adama Boiro ahead of Ollie Scarles at left-back.
Scarles has improved and produced his best performance of the season against Wolves, but this seems like a good opportunity to bring Boiro into the starting XI and inject some pace into the team.
Boiro’s numbers suggest he will offer considerably more attacking intent from left-back, and this looks like a decent opportunity to see what he can do from the start.
I would leave the central-defensive partnership unchanged.
Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos were dominant against Derby and played a major part in West Ham recording their first clean sheet of the Championship campaign.
There is no reason to disturb that partnership.
West Ham cannot afford to slip up
I do not consider Bolton particularly dangerous heading into this game.
They arrive following a 4-0 defeat against Millwall and will also be without the suspended Josh Sheehan.
That does not mean West Ham can afford to become complacent, but this is not a game they can afford to draw.
Having won consecutive matches at the London Stadium, the Hammers could now do with recording their first away victory.
Another win would provide further evidence that the new team is starting to settle and that the poor opening to the season is firmly behind them.
Gonzo’s predicted West Ham team
This prediction is based on Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos both being unavailable.
I expect Nuno to rest Veltman, switch to a 4-3-3 and use Piroe as the lone centre-forward.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Mads Hermansen |
| RB | Kyle Walker-Peters |
| CB | Konstantinos Mavropanos |
| CB | Max Kilman |
| LB | Adama Boiro |
| CM | Mohamadou Kanté |
| CM | Arne Engels |
| CM | Divine Mukasa |
| RW | Jarrod Bowen |
| LW | Manor Solomon |
| ST | Joël Piroe |
Gonzo’s prediction
Hermansen; Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Boiro; Kanté, Engels, Mukasa; Bowen, Piroe, Solomon.
West Ham are beginning to build some genuine momentum, while Bolton arrive after a heavy defeat and without an important midfielder.
The Hammers should have too much quality, even if Nuno makes one or two changes.
Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 0-3 West Ham United
4-3-3
Austbo Piroe Bowen front three
Engels divine Orford in the middle
Boiro kilman mav Walker peters at the back.
Second half bring on Kante, Scarles, new centre back, Golambeckis, Solomon.
I’d have the same formation and similar line up except; Scarles for Boiro (I wouldn’t drop a youngster just finding form) Orford for Kante and surprisingly I would rest Bowen and play Austbo on the right. Dinos as captain
Don’t think Piroe as lone striker would work myself. It’s a shame Landers has gone out on loan because he would be the perfect partner for Piroe as he provides the pace, physicality and pressing skills. Of course irrelevant since he is on loan, but Austbo can play centrally and has played as a no.10 or secondary striker for Viking on ocassionally.
Everything else makes sense, but I fear Nuno needs to find an alternative to Bowen soon before he suffers from severe burn out. He has looked tired for a long time and would benefit from a break.