Midway through the season, the Hammers have three star players in the starting line-up, with James Ward-Proprowse and Jarrod Bowen on the right-hand and left-wing respectively.
Mohammed Kudus will make his Hammers debut in just his second start of the season, a move that could be a wake-up call for Michail Antonio.
Kudus’ arrival came at the end of a rather strong transfer window, although he has been limited to a handful of late substitute starts in the league so far.
Unless Moyes is planning to use Bowen in a false-nine role in Germany, Kudus is likely to remain in the central striker role this season, having scored twice as a wide-forward behind Danny Ings on 21 September in West Ham’s 3-1 defeat of Backa Topola at the Stadium of Light.
The Hammers put a great deal of effort into signing a striker at the end of the transfer window but failed in their attempts to bring in Luiz Alberto or Hugo Ekitike, so Kudus, a former Ajax player, will now be given the opportunity to prove why it doesn’t matter. Antonio started the season strongly with goals in victories over Chelsea and Brighton but has failed to score in five games since, including Saturday’s defeat at Liverpool, which he had discussed on his podcast during the build-up to the game.
Kudus’ versatility was thought to be the answer to the striker shortage this summer, and now he has the chance to show his quality in that role in an important European game. If he can build on his match-winning contribution in the latest group stage win, then there’s every chance he’ll get his first start in the Premier League.
With Antonio probably the most vulnerable attacking player to drop out, this trip to Germany could be the end of the road for the Jamaican.
He’s 33 years old, and it’s hard to write him off when you’ve seen what we’ve seen of Gerson “Scamacca”. But Kudus could be the star we’ve all been waiting for at London Stadium.
It’s no secret that Moyes is a slow learner when it comes to trusting new signings, and so far he’s been the same for Kudus. But he’s given the big money man the opportunity to make a name for himself here, and, if he does, he’s got the quality to keep his place in the team for a while.
The beginning of the European campaign has gone without a hitch, and the Hammers will be eager to take advantage of this opportunity as they strive to qualify for the knockout stages. While some clubs view the Europa League as a mere afterthought, last season’s Europa Conference League triumph was a major turning point in a dismal campaign.
If it were not for the trophy, the Hammers would likely have been dismissed in the summer, and manager David Moyes will be well aware of the significance of this competition, having seen his side reach the semi-final a year ago.
So, away against arguably the most difficult team in the group, this is a golden opportunity for Kudus and, potentially, fellow summer recruit Konstantinos Mamropanos to solidify their positions at West Ham.