OPINION
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is expected to hand hot prospect Conor Coventry a start when his team take on Birmingham City in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The 18-year-old has been in and around the team’s match day squads this season, but his only appearance has been against Macclesfield Town in the Carabao Cup. However, with the Hammers light on midfielders the youngster is likely to get an opportunity here.
The Chilean will probably make plenty of changes against the Championship side, with eight alterations expected from the team that drew with Brighton on Wednesday.
Lukasz Fabianski, Pablo Zabaleta, Aaron Cresswell, Robert Snodgrass, Declan Rice, Felipe Anderson, Andy Carroll and Marko Arnautovic all look set to drop out.
In goal, recognised number two Adrian will surely get the start with Fabianski likely to be rested, while Arthur Masuaku and Michail Antonio will surely provide Zabaleta and Cresswell with the opportunity for a rest.
However, with no real fit alternatives at centre back it’s likely that both Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna will continue at the heart of the defence.
Only Pedro Obiang is expected to survive in midfield, with Coventry set to partner him in the middle of the park as mentioned.
Meanwhile, youngster Grady Diangana will surely be involved from the start having taken a bench role in recent weeks. And it would be no surprise to see January signing Samir Nasri introduced from the beginning after he went straight into the squad for the Brighton game.
Up front, Lucas Perez will likely be given another chance to impress, while exciting 21-year-old Xande Silva will surely be handed a starting berth.