West Ham: Moyes should unleash Tomas Soucek in the Fellaini role | OneFootball

West Ham United head into this weekend’s Premier League clash with Manchester United knowing that they will be without the services of the suspended Michail Antonio.

After failing to sign a new striker during the summer transfer window, Irons manager David Moyes will need to find a quick fix from within.

There are plenty of options to consider, with the likely solution either Jarrod Bowen or Said Benrahma up top, especially as Andriy Yarmolenko only started once in the top-flight last term, but perhaps the 58-year-old should consider one of his biggest masterstrokes at Everton.

Should Moyes start Soucek upfront vs United?

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The Red Devils, who are currently top of the table, have a towering backline of Harry Maguire and summer signing Raphael Varane, so the aforementioned names could certainly struggle if they were deployed as a striker.

At Everton, Moyes often shoehorned Marouane Fellaini into a makeshift centre-forward and it worked to great effect.

He now has a similar weapon available at his disposal in the 6 foot 4 man mountain that is Tomas Soucek. There are plenty of similarities to be had between the two, which is perhaps why the Hammers boss pushed to sign the Czech ace on his return to the London Stadium.

Aside from their obvious aerial advantage, something that West Ham will need in order to counter Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backline, the pair are also hugely versatile in the engine room. Both can play deeper as a holding midfielder and look to dictate play but they can also push forward to play in behind the striker.

Fellaini scored 55 goals in more than 330 appearances in England, whilst Soucek bagged 40 goals in 158 games for Slavia Prague before his move to east London, as per The Athletic.

1 of 10

Can you name all 10 ex-Hammers? First up... He assisted the first goal at the London Stadium but made only 8 appearances for the Irons, who is he?

Havard Nordtveit

Gokhan Tore

Pedro Obiang

Jonathan Calleri

He has since added 14 goals in 58 appearances for the Hammers, via Transfermarkt, which only further suggests his suitability to lead the line – he evidently has an eye for goal and, combined with his towering strength, that makes him an intriguing prospect for Moyes to consider with Antonio absent next weekend.

Since his arrival in east London, the Czech Republic beast has been lauded as “unplayable” by former Premier League star Yannick Bolasie, and Moyes himself even said that he “ticks a lot of boxes.”

The £36m-rated titan could be the secret weapon that the Irons need in attack this weekend. At the very least, the Scotsman should look to his previous stroke of genius when considering his starting XI on Sunday.

AND in other news, West Ham “keeping an eye” on “incredible” teenage sensation ahead of January, claims ExWHUemployee…