It speaks volumes about the paper-thin nature of West Ham United’s squad that injuries to Niclas Fullkrug and Konstantinos Mavropanos have created a real selection headache for Nuno Espirito Santo.
Fullkrug has not even scored a goal this season.
In fact, Eli Junior Kroupi equalled Fullkrug’s Premier League tally in just 96 minutes of action. A striker West Ham United tried and failed to sign during the January window going from strength to strength down the road at AFC Bournemouth.
And while Mavropanos outshone Viktor Gyokeres during a recent clash between Arsenal and West Ham earlier this month, the Greek international has been anything but reliable since moving to the London Stadium from Stuttgart.
Yet, with alternative options few and far between, the losses of Fullkrug and Mavropanos have Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad looking as flimsy as a broadsheet newspaper in a thunderstorm ahead of Friday’s trip to Leeds.
Nuno insists that Callum Wilson is in contention to start at Elland Road. He was controversially left out against Brentford on Monday night, despite being the only fit, Premier League proven centre-forward at the manager’s disposal.
There are large sections of the fanbase who also feel that the time has come for Igor Julio to be given the chance to shine. A new, emergency role for Tomas Soucek has also been floated as a possibility on a night when Nuno’s team selection is likely to come under major scrutiny.
West Ham United fans make Igor Julio demand of Nuno Espirito Santo vs Leeds
The Brighton and Hove Albion loanee has only played a minute of league football since joining on deadline day.
But after Brentford tore Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman apart – Mavropanos, shudder, is probably the club’s most solid centre-back right now – the feeling among many supporters is that Igor would be hard pushed performing any worse than those ahead of him in the pecking order right now.
“If Mavropanos were fit, I would drop Kilman without hesitation,” one supporter writes on X, thinking outside the box in an attempt to solve the club’s defensive issues.
“You could still bring Igor in for Kilman, but then we’re stuck with Todibo. It might sound like a crazy shout, but I’d seriously consider trying [Tomas] Soucek at centre-back.”
A more suitable solution could very well be Soungoutou Magassa.
France Under-21 international Magassa made his name at Monaco a few seasons back as a promising, left-sided central defender. Igor would obviously be a more natural fit for such a position, though.
And though Nuno may have reservations about throwing the Brazilian in at the deep end, Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler highlighted Igor’s ‘special’ ability to adapt quickly to ‘difficult situations’ on the pitch.
“It was a very difficult situation for Igor, [replacing the injured Adam Webster at short-notice] in a game against Tottenham, where the team suffered from the first minute and then conceded two goals,” Hurzeler said after Brighton came back to beat Spurs 3-2 last season.
“To show personality, not hiding, that’s something special. He was not hiding to get the ball. He was not hiding from going into duels, and then he played a great second half against Tottenham.
“I wasn’t surprised by this because I see him every training session and he is an amazing professional.
“He always wants to give the best. He always wants to be the best version of himself.”
Some supporters want Tomas Soucek at centre-half at Elland Road
Igor, due to his left-footedness, would likely have to replace Kilman. Either that, or Nuno starts both of them, while shifting to a three-man backline.
Interestingly, The Athletic report that Nuno did trial a three-man defence in a behind-closed-doors friendly against old employers Wolves recently.
“Personally I’d go; [Alphonse] Areola, [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Igor, [and Kyle] Walker-Peters,” one fan says.
“‘KWP’, Soucek, Igor, [and Malick] Diouf,” another writes, also putting Soucek at centre-half in his hypothetical backline.
“As long as Kilman doesn’t start I’m happy.”
“Igor must start, surely. He cannot be any worse than the two that started v Brentford. Mavropanos is unlucky to be injured. He would have started, I’m sure.”
“I wouldn’t have Kilman or Todibo collecting the cones and balls in at training, let alone playing. Igor needs a go.”
“Think Mavropanos could be out for a bit with that injury. Time to bring in Igor or even try Soucek at centre-back. Can’t be worse than Kilman and Todibo.”
“Our best centre-back is injured. Now, [Nuno] has to give Igor a chance, personally.”
“At what point do you give Igor a chance purely on the basis that he literally cannot be any worse than Kilman or Todibo?”
