West Ham take on Manchester United in what is a huge clash for both sides and Nuno Espirito Santo has admitted he is facing major issues – with a new maverick coming in for the first time.

The Hammers welcome Manchester United to the London Stadium on Tuesday night knowing a win would draw them level on points with Nottingham Forest in the safety of 17th place.

For Man United, victory in east London would lift them up to third place above Aston Villa and just three points off second-placed Man City – who both play on Wednesday.

Depending on the West Ham result vs Manchester United, Forest will have the chance to re-establish their three-point gap over the Irons or even extend it when they take on basement boys Wolves on Wednesday.

Nuno admits major West Ham blows for Man United

What hasn’t been boosted ahead of the visit of Man United to east London is Nuno Espirito Santo’s team selection options.

Michael Carrick – who was heavily linked with the West Ham job before Nuno and Graham Potter were appointed – returns to the club where he started his career in the guise of interim manager of the Red Devils.

You can ask Nuno to make one change ahead of the Man Utd game – what is it? 👀

What a record this is by the way 😍

Nuno can do anything he wants 2 in my eyes apart from 1 thing. and that is ”DON’T-PLAY-KILLMAN-PLEASE” as long as we’ve still got some of our main stars, iv got a feeling in my water we’re gonna get 3 points against Man U 2 morro night C O Y I’s lets do this

And he will no doubt be delighted to learn that his old side look set to be without one or more key players.

West Ham were busy in the January window, making five signings to bolster their bid for survival.

Strikers Taty Castellanos and Pablo have not stopped grafting for the team since they arrived.

Adama Traore was a top target for Nuno and has made two cameo appearances since arriving.

And centre-back Axel Disasi joined on loan from Chelsea on deadline day, making his Hammers debut in the win at Burnley despite not having played competitive football since last April.

West Ham’s other January recruit, little-known winger Keiber Lamadrid, is yet to feature as he was only just starting pre-season in Venezuela when he joined on loan with an option to buy.

Lamadrid actually impressed when making his debut for the Under 21s recently, with the skilful, powerful winger scoring a wonder strike from outside the box.

So much so that Hammers fans have been calling for him to be included in the squad as a wild card option for Nuno.

New maverick Lamadrid in West Ham squad for Man United

Now it seems Hammers fans will get their wish – but the reason behind it does not make for good reading for West Ham, although it will for Carrick and Man United.

According to leading Venezuelan journalist Elias López, Lamadrid is in the West Ham squad for the first time when they take on Manchester United.

Here’s my hot take….

Doing a great job at Old Trafford – but there’s no way he’d have been a better fit to get us out of this mess than Nuno…

“Keiber Lamadrid will be included in West Ham United’s squad to face Manchester United tomorrow in the Premier League,” Lopez revealed on X.

West Ham’s owners explained Lamadrid is a ‘lottery ticket’ signing – and Nuno will be hoping his numbers come in if he gives the 22-year-old winger his big chance.

That may come sooner than many would have hoped because Nuno has admitted West Ham have several worrying injury concerns for the Man United clash.

Nuno insists he is not going to say who is injured but it is more than one player and he described the issue as ‘disappointing’.

“We’re going to have some players out, but I’m not going to say who it is. It’s disappointing, but it is what it is.”

Has Nuno hinted Bowen and Summerville are Hammers doubts?

Reading between the lines it seems Lamadrid’s inclusion suggests one – or both – of captain Jarrod Bowen and key in-form star Crysencio Summerville could miss the game.

Both left the field at Turf Moor carrying knocks and Bowen has been playing through pain – and scraping through late fitness tests of late too.

There are also claims on social media that Pablo has picked up a knock.

Being without Bowen or Summerville would be a huge blow against an in-form side like Man United.

Nuno can certainly ill-afford to be without both.

But that would see Lamadrid likely get on for his debut at some point and the maverick talent could just be the unknown quantity West Ham need during the run-in.