Tomáš Souček returns to the West Ham United starting XI for Saturday’s Premier League derby at Fulham.
The Czech Republic midfielder was on target for his country during the international break, scoring the winner from the penalty spot in a 3-2 UEFA Nations League victory over Ukraine in midweek, and he is back in Julen Lopetegui’s side in west London.
Souček was introduced from the substitutes’ bench in the 3-1 defeat by Manchester City at the end of August, having scored in the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace the previous weekend. Now, the No28 will look to hit the net again at a stadium where he scored a Premier League winner in November 2020.
Lucas Paquetá, who was away in South America on international duty with Brazil, is named among the substitutes. Should he get on, he will register his 15th goal and/or assist in Claret and Blue.
Souček for Paquetá is the only change from the Manchester City game.
Deadline day signing Carlos Soler, the Spain international midfielder, could make his Hammers debut as we seek a 17th win in 29 Premier League games against the Whites.
Head Coach Lopetegui is without centre-forward Niclas Füllkrug, who suffered a calf strain while on international duty with Germany, but Alphonse Areola is fit to keep goal after being replaced at half-time in the Manchester City fixture a fortnight ago.
Elsewhere, Mohammed Kudus makes his 50th West Ham appearance at Craven Cottage. The Ghana international has scored 14 goals and assisted seven in his 49 games to date, including eight and six respectively in the Premier League.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka plays his 175th Premier League game and fourth for West Ham, having appeared in the competition 42 times for Crystal Palace and on 129 occasions for Manchester United.
Fulham: Leno ©, Tete, Bassey, Andersen, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira, Adama, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi, Jiménez
Subs: Benda (GK), Reed, Wilson, Muniz, Cairney, Berge, Nelson, Castagne, Diop
West Ham United: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Rodríguez, Álvarez, Souček, Bowen ©, Kudus, Antonio
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Coufal, Cresswell, Todibo, Soler, Irving, Paquetá, Summerville, Ings
Referee: Tim Robinson
