West Ham’s survival is on the line at St James’ Park on Sunday, and Nuno Espirito Santo faces a huge selection dilemma.
The temptation will be to set up defensively, to protect, to absorb, to hope for a moment of individual quality.
That approach did not work against Arsenal, despite the Hammers giving a good account of themselves. Nuno must be brave this time around, and that starts with dropping the ‘lazy and unfit’ Jean-Clair Todibo in favour of Callum Wilson.
This would allow Nuno to move away from the back five that struggled so visibly against Arsenal and set up with two strikers — Wilson leading the line alongside Taty Castellanos.
West Ham have failed to score in each of their last three Premier League away matches and cannot afford to draw another blank on the road.
Todibo’s disciplinary record adds further concern. He received a straight red card in January for grabbing Joao Pedro by the throat during a melee at Stamford Bridge. In a fixture this pressurised, the risk of another moment of indiscipline is one West Ham cannot carry.
Newcastle have won just one of their last five home matches since March 4, and West Ham won 2-0 at St James’ Park last season — evidence that the Hammers can hurt them if they commit to an attacking approach. Sitting deep and defending for a point will not save them, as a draw is not enough.
Wilson must start, Todibo must make way, and West Ham must go to Newcastle with the intention of winning rather than not losing.