It took Nuno Espirito Santo less than 48 hours to show he is not afraid to make big decisions at West Ham and he could have another one to make soon.

Graham Potter was accused of being too soft and mild mannered to turn West Ham around.

West Ham fans clearly agreed as they turned on Potter during the defeat to Crystal Palace.

The club’s under-fire owners agreed too because they sacked him in the wake of that loss.

Nuno Espirito Santo came in on Saturday and the Portuguese instantly injected some life into the club and lit a fire under the team for the trip to Everton.

From his first interview it has been clear to see Nuno means business at West Ham.

Nuno clearly means business at West Ham

His actions are making statements too.

James Ward-Prowse bombed out of the squad, Freddie Potts elevated to a key role as a midfield sub and a vastly improved team performance which showed the players already know they have to work their socks off for this manager.

The ex Wolves and Forest boss could have had a few months out of football with his feet up, picking up his money from Forest.

Instead he was so keen to take the Hammers job, he told David Sullivan he wanted to take on the daunting challenge of back-to-back away trips to Everton and Arsenal.

Many feel Nuno’s treatment of Ward-Prowse is harsh.

Nobody knows what may have gone on between the pair during that disastrous loan at Forest.

But what it does prove is that Nuno is not someone to be trifled with.

And he must take extreme action if a West Ham star refuses to change his alleged bad attitude.

Before he was fired on Saturday, Potter suggested West Ham do not have a great culture among some in the dressing room as he insisted he is not the problem at the London Stadium.

Since he was sent packing, it has emerged Potter fell out with a host of Hammers stars behind the scenes.

That’s not the first time West Ham fans have heard that about this group.

All the stories came out when the Spaniard was axed and the cycle has repeated itself after Potter’s dismissal.

There is already a sense players won’t be getting away with that kind of behaviour under no-nonsense Nuno.

Nuno must take extreme action if West Ham star refuses to change

And one in particular will be under his watchful eye ahead of the January window.

With all the talk about Ward-Prowse being ditched, it went somewhat unnoticed that defender Jean-Clair Todibo was nowhere to be seen in the West Ham squad at Everton either.

This is a player the Hammers have just had to pay £32m for after his season-long loan with obligation from Nice.

Todibo endured a difficult debut season at West Ham, looking Champions League standard one moment and Championship the next.

He barely completed a single 90 minutes all season and that continued into this campaign despite Todibo insisting having a full pre-season would mean he would be at his best this term.

Lopetegui confirmed he had a bust-up with Todibo last season. That was alleged to have turned physical and the Frenchman was dropped from the squad for a game and made to train with the Under 21s for a spell.

One of the players Potter is said to have fallen out with is Todibo, who has been painted as a real bad apple in reports from the likes of The Athletic over the last year.

It has been reported that Potter called Todibo into his office to tell him to improve his effort in training.

Todibo’s alleged response was to turn up late to training the next day – hence being dropped from the squad for Spurs.

A leading external West Ham source told Hammers News the truth behind Todibo’s absence from the squad for Nuno’s first game at Everton.

Todibo was suffering with sickness hence his absence for the Hammers.

Third strike should be out for Todibo at West Ham

The former Barcelona flop has been pictured training this week ahead of Arsenal at the Emirates, the scene of arguably Todibo’s best performance for the Hammers during a 1-0 win last season.

All eyes now will be on whether Nuno gives Todibo a clean slate and whether the player responds in a positive way to the change of manager.

There is something seriously wrong if a player with Todibo’s attributes cannot get a game for West Ham ahead of the likes of Konstantinos Mavropanos.

With Nuno in charge, no fools will be suffered at West Ham from here on.

If Todibo does not start showing willing and what he is capable of then Nuno should – and undoubtedly will – ship him straight out when January 1st rolls around.

It would be his third strike after all.

With Jorge Mendes helping his recruitment, Nuno will have no shortage of options for a willing replacement.