More Wholesale Than Retail Changes For Hammers Cup Tie

Manuel Pellegrini won the League Cup twice in three seasons at Manchester City in 2014 and 2016 and wants to help West Ham win the Cup that has for ever eluded them. Always the bridesmaid never the bride best descibes Hammers fortunes or lack of them as is the case in the League/Milk/Carabao Cup, Runners up in 1966, 1981 and semi finalists on two other occasions when the semi's were two legged, but always falling short. The 'Cara' cup represents one of the best chances for the club to gain honours and is a competition the Hammers Boss does not take lightly.

Pellegrini told the official WHUFC.Com site "Our ambition is clear, to take the competition very seriously and progress as far as we possibly can. This is a competition that has many good memories for me, It was the first title I won in English football, as manager of Manchester City in 2014. It is a very important competition – the first major trophy that can be won in the season – and the experience of winning at Wembley in front of your supporters is something that stays with you forever. I know it is a trophy that West Ham United have not yet won in our history and, of course, we would like that to change, but first we must concentrate on showing the right approach against Macclesfield. In the last round at AFC Wimbledon, we went a goal down early on and had to show patience and belief in order to get back into the game and eventually come out on top,”

Pellegrini went on to mention that he will give opportunities to his fringe players. “We know that we may have to show the same qualities again this evening against a team who will be very motivated and eager to make a big impression. However, I have every confidence that we will be in the right frame of mind. This fixture will give us the opportunity to utilise our squad and bring in players who have not had as many minutes in the Premier League recently, and I am sure they will be hungry to do well. We are also looking forward to another good atmosphere at London Stadium, the support for the team on Sunday was magnificent, and I hope that everyone at the game enjoys a memorable evening."

Having 'talked the talk' the reality is not who will play, but who won't be playing. Despite returning to light training Marko Arnautovic will not be risked neither will Antonio who still looks exhausted after every match which opens the door for Javier Hernandez who should return after a bout of flu and Lucas Perez who has had hardly any game time since arriving at the club. Carlos Sanchez, Aaron Cresswell and Adrian are logical choices for the starting line up as is Ryan Fredericks and Angelo Ogbonna. Whether El Pel decides to use Mark Noble in the midfield is a matter of some conjecture given the club captain's exertions during the hard fought draw against Chelsea on Sunday, Rice and Diop on the other hand have energy to burn so it is likely they will both feature. Yarmolenko could well feature but Anderson will only be on the bench and will not play unless the match situation dictates otherwise, Pellegrini's 'scottish love child' Robert Snodgrass will definitely start and may well be handed the captain's arm band if Mark Noble doesn't play.

So as we it the starting eleven against Macclesfield will be : Adrian, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Fredericks, Sanchez, Diop, Rice, Yarmolenko, Snodgrass, Perez, Hernandez. Subs: Fabianski, Balbuena, Noble, Anderson, Zabaleta, Antonio, Masuaku.