OPINION
West Ham United are up to 13th in the Premier League table and looking the keep the momentum going after last weekend’s tremendous 4-2 victory over Burnley.
Huddersfield Town are the team standing in the way of that goal, as Manuel Pellegrini’s side travel to the John Smith’s Stadium for a deceptively tricky encounter.
The Chilean’s big decision is whether to make significant changes to the team that beat Burnley last time out, and it’s unlikely that the former Manchester City chief makes more than one alteration for this game.
The only change the Hammers should be making, and it’s a controversial one, is dropping teenager Grady Diangana for Javier Hernandez.
Lukasz Fabianski should be the first name on the team sheet at the London Stadium after a phenomenal start to his West Ham career. The same goes for right back Pablo Zabaleta who has been terrific this campaign and will surely continue in defence.
Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop have formed one of the more formidable partnerships in the top flight, and should get the nod again at centre back, while Aaron Cresswell’s defensive nous should give him the edge over Arthur Masuaku once again at left back.
Declan Rice is the lynchpin in defensive midfield for the Hammers and deserves to continue in his role, while Robert Snodgrass and Pedro Obiang should be expected to continue ahead of him.
Felipe Anderson must continue on the left hand side after his brace against the Clarets, but the in form Grady Diangana should drop out on the right hand side.
The 20-year-old has played a lot of football of late, and his style of football may not be effective against a Huddersfield side who will remain compact throughout. More trickery and incisiveness is needed and so Marko Arnautovic should move back out to the right.
That will make room for the £140k-a-week striker Javier Hernandez [Source: Transfermarkt], who got on the scoresheet off the bench against Burnley. Clear cut chances will be at a premium against a well-drilled Terriers side, and so Hernandez’s poachers instinct will be vital.
