West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo faces several selection decisions ahead of Saturday’s Championship meeting with West Brom, with captain Jarrod Bowen and defender Dinos Mavropanos among the players being assessed.
The Hammers are monitoring a number of fitness concerns as they prepare for the encounter, leaving Nuno waiting on the condition of key members of his squad before finalising his plans.
Bowen picked up an ankle problem during training, while Mavropanos has been managing a knee injury that initially raised concerns within the West Ham camp. However, the latest update on the Greek defender offers some encouragement ahead of the weekend fixture.
Defender Joel Veltman is also a doubt after missing last weekend’s defeat to Southampton. Midfielder Keiber Lamadrid remains another concern, having been absent since West Ham’s victory over Wolves in September.
Speaking ahead of the West Brom clash, Nuno confirmed that several players remain in contention but will need further assessment before their availability can be determined.
“We have some doubts, and some players who are still in contention who we have to evaluate. We have situations with Dinos, Joel and Keiber, that we have to consider.
“It is Dinos’ knee, and we were concerned about the injury, but thankfully it’s not as serious as we expected, and he’s recovering quite well.
“Jarrod twisted his ankle in training. He had treatment for a couple of days, but he joined us today (Friday), and he seems okay.”
Bowen’s return to training is particularly encouraging for West Ham, given his importance as captain and attacking leader. The winger’s availability could prove significant as the Hammers look to respond positively to their defeat against Southampton.
Mavropanos’ improving condition also provides a potential boost, although Nuno will be cautious about rushing the defender back before he is fully ready. The initial concern surrounding his knee injury has eased, but his final fitness assessment will determine whether he can feature.
Veltman and Lamadrid remain less certain, with the manager still weighing up their situations. Their potential absence would further limit Nuno’s options as he prepares his team for a demanding Championship fixture.
West Ham will be hoping to have as many of their key players available as possible against West Brom. With several decisions still to be made, the final training assessments could prove decisive in shaping Nuno’s matchday squad.
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