Konstantinos Mavropanos makes his first Premier League start for West Ham United in Saturday’s visit to Brentford.
The 25-year-old has impressed in his performances across the UEFA Europa League and Carabao Cup since joining the Hammers in the summer, and once again put in a sterling showing against former side Arsenal on Wednesday evening at London Stadium.
With captain Kurt Zouma absent from today’s matchday squad, Mavropanos is rewarded for his fine efforts with a first Premier League start for the Irons.
Saïd Benrahma is also named in the starting XI against his former side. The Algerian scored for the Hammers against the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium in a 1-0 FA Cup win in January.
There are three changes to the starting XI from the win over the Gunners in midweek, with two outfield as James Ward-Prowse comes back into the team alongside forward Michail Antonio, with the duo replacing the suspended Lucas Paquetá and Edson Álvarez.
The No7 is also given the captain's armband this afternoon for the Hammers.
The other change comes in goal as Alphonse Areola resumes his duties as Premier League shot-stopper this season for David Moyes’ side. He replaces Łukasz Fabiański in the starting XI.
The Irons set up with the same four defenders from the win over Arsenal, with Vladimír Coufal making his 100th Premier League appearance for West Ham this afternoon. The Czech Republic international joins Mavropanos, Nayef Aguerd and Emerson Palmieri in the team.
Ward-Prowse partners Tomáš Souček in the centre of the park, with the No28 playing a 170th game for the Hammers in Brentford.
Mohammed Kudus retains his place in the starting XI after scoring a brilliant finish on Wednesday, as does Jarrod Bowen. The England international is looking to become the first player in Premier League history to score in his side’s first six away games of a season.
The pair are joined by Benrahma in supporting striker Antonio up front. The 33-year-old is looking to add to his tally of 77 competitive finishes for West Ham.
Manager Moyes has a host of experienced options available from the bench if required, with the likes of Danny Ings, Pablo Fornals, Maxwel Cornet and Aaron Cresswell joining Fabiański among the substitutes.
Thilo Kehrer, Angelo Ogbonna, Ben Johnson and Divin Mubama complete the nine substitutes.
Brentford: Flekken, Pinnock, Ajer, Collins, Nørgaard (c), Janelt, Oneyka, Jensen, Mbueno, Wissa, Maupay
Subs: Strakosha (GK), Zanka, Ghoddos, Mee, Roerslev, Yarmolyuk, Olakigbe, Bierley, Mayowa Adedokun
West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson, Ward-Prowse (c), Souček, Kudus, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Johnson, Cresswell, Kehrer, Ogbonna, Fornals, Cornet, Ings, Mubama
Referee: Thomas Bramall
