Rehanne Skinner has made one change to her West Ham United women’s team for the visit of Manchester United on Saturday.
The Hammers host the Red Devils at Chigwell Construction Stadium, looking to build on what was a terrific March, which concluded with them coming from 2-0 down to draw with Chelsea at Kingsmeadow courtesy of a brilliant Shekiera Martinez double.
And following the draw against Sonia Bompastor’s team, Skinner has brought Eva Nyström into her side to face the Red Devils, with Anouk Denton dropping to the substitutes’ bench.
The Finland international, who signed for the Irons in January, started five consecutive matches after putting pen to paper in the winter window, but has since been a substitute for the last two games.
That means Kinga Szemik starts in between the sticks for the 19th successive WSL fixture and is likely to be supported by a back five in east London.
Alongside Nyström will be Li Mengwen, Amber Tysiak, Shelina Zadorsky and Verena Hanshaw. Tysiak will head into the clash with Manchester United buoyed by her 3-2 UEFA Women’s Nations League victory over England with Belgium during the international break.
In midfield will once again be the ever-present duo of captain Katrina Gorry and Oona Siren. The latter received a lot of praise from Skinner in her pre-match press conference on Friday for how quickly she has adapted to the pace of England’s top flight.
As well as helping out with their defensive duties, the partnership of Gorry and Siren will support a front three of Viviane Asseyi, Martinez and Riko Ueki. France international Asseyi was on target the last time the two teams met at Chigwell Construction Stadium, floating a brilliantly-weighted lofted finish over Mary Earps to secure a 1-1 draw.
Skinner has named nine substitutes for the visit of Manchester United. Megan Walsh is the goalkeeping option, who sits alongside defenders Denton, Kirsty Smith and Camila Sáez. As well as midfielder Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, there are several attacking threats on the bench in Seraina Piubel, Emma Harries, Manuela Paví and Princess Ademiluyi.
West Ham United: Szemik, Mengwen, Nyström, Zadorsky, Tysiak, Hanshaw, Siren, Gorry ©, Martinez, Asseyi, Ueki
Subs: M.Walsh (GK), Denton, Smith, Sáez, Brynjarsdóttir, Harries, Paví, Piubel, Ademiluyi
Manchester United: Tullis-Joyce, Riviere, Le Tissier ©, Turner, George, Miyazawa, Bizet, Clinton, Toone, Galton, Terland
Subs: Middleton-Patel (GK), Rendell (GK), Mannion, Sandberg, Awujo, Janssen, Naalsund, Malard, Williams
Referee: Harrison Blair
