By Louis Nixon

Since Malick Diouf departed for AFCON, it has left the Hammers in a vulnerable position, one where it has begged the question of who should receive the starting spot over him, before he eventually returns. 

Wan-Bissaka has already returned from AFCON after Congo had been knocked out, but Senegal has made it to the Semi-finals in the tournament, which is why Diouf has yet to turn, which has left Nuno with a daunting question of whether he should play Ollie Scarles or Ezra Mayers. 

Both youth players certainly have talent and that’s certainly been shown through their numerous appearances since their debut, with the Hammers now counting on the pair more than ever due to a lack of investment in key positions, as well as the injury crisis that Nuno has had to endure.  

I, ahead of Spurs, would personally start Mayers. He ran his heart out against QPR and when his energy levels had been depleted, Ollie Scarles was brought on and it seemed to give the entire team a boost, which is exactly why I think we should replicate that, just of course across 90 minutes rather than 120. 

However, if it came to it, I would also like to see both play, which wouldn’t be entirely difficult, given that Ezra Mayers is originally a central defender rather than a Wing-back, it just happens to be that he’s been able to get his foot through the door playing there and has since continued to do so. 

Both defenders are on par with each other and I think each players offers similar on the pitch, but they both do have their own aspects to themselves that betters one another, but for the sake of consistency and gameplan, it would be good to see Mayers start in the wingback slot, let him run his heart out without a worry as Scarles will come on for him in the second half, sounds ideal. 

Malick Diouf will likely be the starting man for the job once he returns from AFCON, but for the timebeing, Mayers should get the nod ahead of Scarles, but they should both play roughly the same amount of minutes.