Silkeborg IF Match Preview
After the weekend’s game against Newcastle United was postponed due to the Queen’s sudden passing a week ago, West Ham United are back in UEFA Europa Conference League action tonight when they face their second Group B encounter against Danish side Silkeborg IF at JYSK Park Stadium.
The aim for the Hammers is to tighten their grip on top spot in the group after they started the campaign with a 3-1 home victory against FCSB despite having to come from behind.
They will also hope to achieve back-to-back wins for the first time this season, as they return to Denmark, having beaten fellow Danish Superliga side Viborg FF in their play-off match.
Success here will hopefully give the Irons confidence to make it three wins in the space of ten days, as they are on their travels again with a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday afternoon.
It might be an advantage for the East Londoners, having not played last weekend as they will be the fresher of the two sides, however tonight’s hosts will surely have momentum behind them, following a 1-0 triumph over AGF last time out.
Maxwel Cornet picked up a neck injury in last Thursday’s match and manager David Moyes confirmed that the former Burnley man has travelled with the squad and will be pushing for a start.
Aaron Cresswell should be fit enough to return to the defence following a calf injury. However, if the former Ipswich Town defender doesn’t recover in time, then Thilo Kehrer is certain to take his place following his appearance at Wednesday’s pre-match news conference. Angelo Ogbonna could retain his place.
Lucas Paquetá will hope to get his first European start for the club since joining at the end of August, while Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio all came off the bench to great effect seven days ago and will be in contention to start here.
Craig Dawson came on as a late substitute as he continued his recovery from a thigh injury against the Romanians and there is the possibility that he might be included here. Tomáš Souček is available after a foot injury but will have to be assessed before he is considered for selection.
Alphonse Areola is set to make his second appearance in the space of a week, as he deputises for Łukasz Fabiański in goal. Moyes has seemed keen to include two goalkeepers in his match day squads recently so, either the Pole, Darren Randolph or youngster Krisztián Hegyi will be on the bench.
Tonight’s match is an 8pm kick-off with live coverage being screened by BT Sport from 7:45pm. The referee is Fábio Veríssimo.