OPINION
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini would be wise to recall in-form winger Michail Antonio for his team’s clash with Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
The Englishman has been inexplicably ignored by the Chilean for the last couple of games, despite being in season-best form prior to the team’s win over Newcastle United. Robert Snodgrass should drop out for the 28-year-old here.
Fabian Balbuena, Samir Nasri and Marko Arnautovic also deserve to come into the Hammers side, with Angelo Ogbonna, Felipe Anderson and Javier Hernandez to miss out.
Those four changes would likely be enough for Pellegrini’s side to blow away a dismal, desperate Huddersfield team at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Lukasz Fabianski has proved that he is one of the finest goalkeepers in the Premier League this season, and he must keep his place between the sticks as a result. Aaron Cresswell is also a near automatic selection at left back at the moment.
Ryan Fredericks struggled against Cardiff City last time out but he has shown enough in recent weeks to start once again at right back here. Issa Diop undoubtedly deserves to remain in place, but it’s about time that Balbuena returns at the expense of Ogbonna at the heart of the defence.
A 4-4-1-1 formation appears to be the best solution for West Ham at this moment in time, with captain Mark Noble deserving to start alongside starlet Declan Rice in central midfield.
Out wide, there needs to be a slight shake up. Anderson has been hugely disappointing since the turn of the year and should miss out here as a result. Manuel Lanzini should move across to the left hand side. On the right, as mentioned, Antonio must come in for Snodgrass.
Nasri’s creativity has been much missed while he’s been out injured and he absolutely has to start in support of Arnautovic up front. The Austrian will be keen to make an impact after spending the last couple of months in Pellegrini’s bad books.
