West Ham v Hull City - Fluid forward line key for Tigers chief

Mallik Wilks impressed there in the League Cup second round tie at Leeds United but was back to the wing for Saturday’s League One game at home to Crewe Alexandra. He returned to the middle when Josh Magennis was substituted around the hour-mark, and scored the game’s only goal, having also netted at Elland Road.

With coach McCann more interested in the weekend’s game at Northampton Town than tonight’s League Cup third round tie at West Ham, a start for Magennis could point to a more fluid front three in upcoming league matches. The plan had been for Wilks to be substituted at half-time at Leeds, but he was playing too well.

Magennis, like the injured Tom Eaves, is more of a targetman with a proven third-tier track record, but McCann is moving more towards a more interchangeable forward line.

“Mallik can run in behind, he’s quick, he’s strong, he can hold people off,” said McCann. “James Scott plays centre-forward for Scotland, we’ve got Eavesy (Tom Eaves) and Magennis, Martin (Samuelsen) played there at Sunderland, Keano (Keane Lewis-Potter) can play there, and we like all the front players to be able to play in two or three different positions so we are able to move them around in games to affect things.”

McCann has changed his team a lot for midweek matches this season, and competition for places is building to the extent he admits some players are demanding involvement on the weekends.

Despite the League Cup not being his priority, it has been good to the Tigers this season. After relegation in 2019-20, they started this campaign positively, knocking League One rivals Sunderland out on penalties.

“It was important to get that first win,” said McCann. “It was a tough first game for us. It probably just gave us that little marker because the performance wasn’t great but we got the job done.

“We followed it up with a performance at Gillingham that could have been a lot more than 2-0 and at Leeds where God knows how we only scored one goal.

“The same squad (as Saturday’s) will travel to West Ham, we’ll look at the freshness of the group and see who can go again.

“Of course (the midweek players are banging on the door). The most important thing will be the game at Northampton.”

Belfast-born McCann started his playing career at West Ham, so a match at the London Stadium holds special significance for him.

“It will be brilliant, great, the first time I’ve managed against West Ham,” he said. “I’ve not been to the Olympic Stadium and after the Leeds game the boys were buzzing about a trip there.

“No-one will give us a hope in hell so we can go and enjoy the game, like we did at Leeds.”

Ex-Hull winger Jarrod Bowen could miss out, with David Moyes also expected to make changes. Another former Tiger, Robert Snodgrass, could start.

The Hammers are thought to have paid for Hull’s players to be coronavirus tested, having done the same for Charlton Athletic in the previous round.

Hull’s squad went through mandatory weekly testing at the club’s expense when last season resumed after the lockdown. Premier League players still do, with the league paying for it, but there is no longer a requirement for Football League clubs, except after international breaks and when players show symptoms.

Tonight’s winners are at Fleetwood Town or Everton in next week’s fourth round.

Last six games: West Ham United LWLDDW; Hull City WDWLDL.

Referee: S Hooper (Swindon).

Last time: West Ham United 1 Hull City 0, December 17, 2016, Premier League.

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James Mitchinson