SHARE

West Ham United will face Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday evening, with several new faces likely to feature.

The Hammers will play in their first ever Europa League group stage match at 5.45pm on Thursday, so we take a look at who David Moyes could lineup for the fixture.

Several summer signings, who have experience in European competition, could be making their debuts and we predict that some of these new squad members will impress on the big stage…

GK: Alphonse Areola

David Moyes could be set on handing new signing Alphonse Areola his competitive debut for West Ham.

Fabianski could be rested for our league game just three days after this fixture, which means fans will get to see what Areola can do between the sticks.

RB: Vladimir Coufal 

Czech international Vladimir Coufal is set to retain his place at right-back for this game.

Moyes will want to name a strong side and Coufal is no doubt one of West Ham’s most trusted players.

CB: Kurt Zouma

We could also see £29 million signing Kurt Zouma make his first appearance in claret and blue.

A series of mistakes from Craig Dawson over the past couple of weeks has led to calls for a change in the lineup, with champions league winner and French international Zouma ready and waiting.

CB: Angelo Ogbonna 

Ogbonna is set to partner Kurt Zouma in the back four, and like Coufal is one of the team’s most important defensive players.

Ogbonna will thrive in Europe this season and should be complemented by the help of his new centre-back team mate in this fixture.

LB: Aaron Cresswell 

Aaron Cresswell

Aaron Cresswell will make up the final position in our back four against Zagreb.

His deliveries and set pieces on the left-hand side will no doubt trouble their defence and give West Ham a good aerial threat.

CDM: Declan Rice

West Ham’s on-field captain will be ecstatic that he will play in his first European game for a club in his career.

The England international showed in this summer’s Euros that he can perform on the biggest stage and will certainly play on Thursday.

CDM: Tomas Soucek

Like Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek will be eager to prove his abilities at the next level.

The Czech Republic captain will definitely start, despite the arrival of Alex Kral on deadline day, and will be a vital player for West Ham against Zagreb.

RM: Jarrod Bowen 

A terrific performance against Southampton showed Jarrod Bowen to be one of West Ham’s stand-out players, and he should keep his place in the starting lineup.

Although he is yet to find the net this season, Bowen will continue to be a threat on the right-hand side.

CAM: Nikola Vlasic 

New summer signing Nikola Vlasic came on for Said Benrahma to make his first appearance for West Ham on Saturday.

With European experience, Moyes could hand the Hammers’ £27million man his first start on Thursday.

LM: Pablo Fornals

25-year-old Pablo Fornals should however keep his place in the starting lineup for Thursday’s game.

Fornals already has three goals and two assists in all competitions this season and will look to improve that tally against Zagreb.

ST: Michail Antonio

Finally, Michail Antonio is set to keep his spot up top for West Ham despite getting needlessly sent off against Southampton at the weekend.

Antonio will miss our Sunday game against Man United and so Moyes will want to utilise his good scoring form before he cannot play for another week.