West Ham United return to European action on Thursday as champions, having lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League Trophy in Prague just a few months ago. As a result of their success, the Hammers will spend this season in the UEFA Europa League – and their first challenge will be FK TSC Bačka Topola.
The Serbian side finished second in the SuperLiga last term, and have won six of their seven league games thus far this season. David Moyes’ side have enjoyed a similarly positive run of form, with their unbeaten start only ending on Saturday against Manchester City.
Moyes has made nine changes to the starting eleven that lost that match, with Lucas Paquetá and James Ward-Prowse the only players to retain their starting berths.
Embed from Getty ImagesLucas Fabianski replaces Alphonse Areola between the sticks, with a changed back four looking to offer additional defensive protection. Aaron Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Thilo Kehrer start on Thursday – replacing Emerson, Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Vladimir Coufal.
Edson Álvarez and Thomas Souček also drop out of the starting eleven. Pablo Fornals comes into the side, with James Ward-Prowse expected to drop into a deeper role at the base of the midfield.
Lucas Paquetá is set to line up alongside Saïd Benrahma and Mohamed Kudus, with Danny Ings to lead the line for the Hammers on their return to European action. Those changes see Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio drop to the bench.
WHU: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Mavropanos, Kehrer; Fornals, Ward-Prowse; Benrahma, Paquetá, Kudus; Ings
TSC: Simic; Petrovic, Dordevic, Antonín, Cvetkovic; Kuveljic, Stojic, Dakovac, Radin; Jovanovic, Stanic
