(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

I’ve given up trying to call any David Moyes selection ahead of the game !

But I HOPE for three things today:

• an end to this absurd Artur Masuaku thing at left back and the re-introduction of Ben Johnson or a Premier League debut for Emmanuel Longelo
• another chance for Nikola Vlasic – this time close to Mikey Antonio up front after the No 9 showed a much needed returmn to form
• and the use of Manu Lanzini who will be required permanently through Said Benrahma’s absence at Afcon and thus needs as much game time as we can given him ahead of that.

I’m among those who believe the PL has copped out in the biggest possible way by the “carry opn playing regardless” edict which will see Watford having had a long rest whilst the Hammers have been playing fixture after fixture,

It remains to be seen how many of Watford’s regular first team players will be missing and whether manager Claudio Ranieri has been playing mind games.

Josh King will be facing central defenders who can blow hot and cold and let’s hope that Moyes doesn’t opt to play Ben alongside Daws and Diop as he did at Spurs in what turned out to be one of his poorest games since arriving in the squad.

Central defence is no position in which to experiment and if three in the middle is the plan then give one of Alese or Baptiste his chance.

No Declan will make life difficult and my bet is that the manager will turn to a fresh Mark Noble as he looks for some leadership after the recent defeats.

Today isn’t going to be easy – Watford will either be fresh and at it or a bit off the pace – either way we need a very big performance and this would be my team:

Fabianski; Coufal, Diop, Dawson Johnson; Soucek, Noble; Bowen, Lanzini, Vlasic, Antonio.