West Ham v Wrexham Preview: Predictions, Teams, Lineups

By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

West Ham United v Wrexham
EFL Championship
London Stadium
Friday 11 September 2026, 8pm BST

Four consecutive wins would be serious form

West Ham have now won three consecutive Championship matches, but make no mistake about it: if the Hammers can stretch that run to four against Wrexham, we are talking about serious form.

Any team capable of stringing four successive victories together in this division will find themselves doing very well indeed. Another win would make the rest of the Championship stand up and take notice.

The performance at Bolton was not necessarily West Ham’s best. In fact, I don’t think Nuno Espírito Santo picked the right team.

However, the Hammers came back, utilised our superior squad and eventually won because we had better players available from the bench.

As highlighted in our closer look at the game, Bolton exposed West Ham before Nuno’s substitutions turned the match.

The manager did not get everything right, but once again, he got his substitutions spot on.

Nuno should restore three key players

I expect Nuno to freshen up his team following the short turnaround and bring Joël Veltman, Manor Solomon and Joël Piroe back into the starting XI.

Veltman was rested at Bolton and should return at right-back, while Solomon and Piroe both offer greater experience in attack.

Edvin Austbø has made a decent early impression. He is incredibly quick and looks capable of becoming a very exciting player for West Ham.

However, at this stage of his development, he may be better suited to the role of impact substitute. His pace against tiring defenders could become a major weapon for Nuno.

That said, I would like to see him introduced earlier than the final ten minutes if the opportunity arises.

Pablo likely to retain Nuno’s faith

I would not start Pablo Felipe against Wrexham, particularly after his disappointing performance at Bolton.

However, I suspect Nuno will select him because the manager clearly likes what the Brazilian Portugeezer brings to his team.

Nuno defended the forward after Tuesday’s victory, but Pablo’s lack of goals is no longer the only concern. His physical impact was also missing at Bolton.

With Taty Castellanos facing a late fitness test following his hamstring injury, Piroe should return to the attack. Personally, I would start him as the main striker and use an extra midfielder behind him.

Nevertheless, I expect Nuno to retain his preferred 4-4-2 and partner Piroe with Pablo.

Orford deserves to join midfield three

Divine Mukasa and Arne Engels should remain together in central midfield.

The Bolton game did not particularly suit Mukasa, but he is already integral to the way West Ham play. Engels has also begun to show why the club invested so heavily in him.

My preference would be to supplement them with Lewis Orford in a three-man midfield.

Orford has been one of West Ham’s best midfielders this season and would provide greater control in possession. That system would also give Mukasa more freedom to influence the game further forward.

However, if Nuno does return to 4-4-2, it will almost certainly leave Orford on the bench again.

Defensive partnership should remain untouched

I would have a look at Adama Boiro at left-back, but I would not change the central-defensive partnership.

Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos are performing very well together and appear to be learning each other’s games.

Mavropanos has looked far more motivated since the transfer window closed, and his goal at Bolton was another example of his value at both ends of the pitch. As I wrote following the victory, he should be one of the best central defenders in the Championship.

Nuno now has Morato and Airidas Golambeckis waiting for opportunities, but there is no reason to disturb the Kilman-Mavropanos partnership at present.

I suspect Ollie Scarles will retain his place at left-back, with Boiro remaining among the substitutes.

Wrexham must be taken seriously

West Ham should take Wrexham extremely seriously.

This is a proper football club with big ambitions of reaching the Premier League. Phil Parkinson’s team have also made a strong start away from home, drawing at Cardiff and Swansea before winning 3-0 at Millwall.

They have drawn four of their opening six Championship games and have already demonstrated an ability to recover from losing positions.

Wrexham also have an excellent record against London clubs, although Friday night will present a very different challenge.

A crowd of more than 60,000 at London Stadium will be the biggest Wrexham have played in front of, and West Ham must use that atmosphere to their advantage.

The visitors could be without Max Cleworth and Josh Windass after both were withdrawn during their 1-1 draw against Burnley. However, they have already shown enough this season to ensure there can be no complacency.

Gonzo’s predicted West Ham team

This is the team I expect Nuno to select rather than necessarily the side I would choose.

I would play a midfield three containing Orford, Mukasa and Engels, with Piroe operating as the lone striker. However, I suspect Nuno will return to 4-4-2 and restore Pablo to the team.

Position	Player
GK	Mads Hermansen
RB	Joël Veltman
CB	Konstantinos Mavropanos
CB	Max Kilman
LB	Ollie Scarles
RM	Jarrod Bowen
CM	Divine Mukasa
CM	Arne Engels
LM	Manor Solomon
ST	Joël Piroe
ST	Pablo Felipe

Gonzo’s prediction

Wrexham will arrive organised, ambitious and confident in their away form. I expect them to score, particularly given that both teams have found the net in seven of West Ham’s eight matches this season.

However, the Hammers possess greater quality and a considerably stronger bench.

If Nuno’s starting selection does not work, he has already demonstrated that he can change the game with his substitutes.

Prediction: West Ham United 3-1 Wrexham