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A moment from training which had everyone talking has forced Nuno Espirito Santo into a big decision on Callum Wilson for West Ham’s crunch clash at Aston Villa.
If West Ham are to win the battle for survival, a positive result at out-of-sorts Aston Villa could be vital.
The Hammers know they will climb out of the relegation zone with a win and can even jump out of the bottom three with a draw if Forest lose at Spurs.
Aston Villa have lost their last three Premier League games so, on paper, it looks like a good time for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to face Unai Emery’s men.
Nuno weighing up dropping Pablo for Wilson when West Ham face Villa
Axel Disasi has delivered inside intel for West Ham on Villa ahead of the clash while warning against underestimating the club he played for on loan last season.
The big decision for Nuno is whether to change formation and attack or, like against Man City, be solid and hard to beat.
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Now Nuno looks set to make one West Ham change vs Aston Villa after a big decision on Callum Wilson.
For all his excellent hard work and pressing, Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos has failed to really contribute in terms goals and assists since signing for West Ham in January.
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Castellanos and fellow January signing Pablo have made a huge difference with their workrate.
But Taty was West Ham’s worst player against Man City and many have called for a change up top.
Wilson and Taty handed Nuno late selection headache ahead of Villa with a superb moment in an 11-a-side training ground match at Rush Green.
The duo combined beautifully, resulting in Wilson scoring a brilliantly taken goal past number one goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
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Wilson is comfortably West Ham’s best finisher and chances may be at a premium for the Hammers at Villa Park.
So the moment will have given Nuno plenty of food for thought.
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Especially as he ponders whether to revert to a flat back four against Aston Villa after going with three centre-backs vs Man City last time out.
West Ham may have been resolute in drawing that game but they could only muster one shot on target against Man City – who have been much easier to get at of late.
Nuno must weigh up the right balance in order to get a positive result and head into the final seven matches of the season outside the relegation zone.
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Especially with a run of more winnable fixtures on the horizon after the international break.
Villa can be devastatingly good on their day and Nuno must prepare West Ham to face the best version of Emery’s side, regardless of their poor league form.
So we think Nuno will stick with three at the back, especially as Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo and Disasi were among their best players vs Man City.
But Nuno is, Hammers News understands, agonising over whether to bring Wilson in from the start in place of Pablo.
The Brazilian worked hard on his return to the side against Man City. But West Ham were never a threat in and around the box.
Wilson would change that and therein lies Nuno’s big dilemma.
But we think the Hammers boss will stick with Pablo up top from the start to try and wear Villa down in the hope that opens up space for Wilson later in the game.
Predicted West Ham team to face Aston Villa:
Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Disasi, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Castellanos, Pablo.
The official teams will be announced at 1pm ahead of the 2.15pm kick-off, which is live on Sky Sports.
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