Having brought in numerous quality players to strengthen the squad and kept the services of Declan Rice, West Ham have been tipped to break back into the Premier League’s top six this season.
Instead, David Moyes’s side sit at the bottom of the table with zero points and goals after defeats to Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion.
While the club’s supporters were understanding about losing to the defending champions, they have been left frustrated with their team’s output in the final third in the following two fixtures.
Even though they got a 3-1 victory over Viborg on the board in the opening fixture of this tie, they had to come through some difficult moments before netting a potentially-pivotal strike through Michail Antonio during the closing stages.
There is still every expectation that they will come through on Thursday with minimal fuss, but a test of character will be required if they concede the first goal in Denmark.
However, Viborg have been equally inconsistent in recent weeks, starting the Danish top-flight campaign with three wins and three defeats.
The latest of those setbacks came against unbeaten Randers at the weekend, although Jacob Friis’s team are only four points adrift of top spot.
Facing West Ham is a clear step up in class from what they have previously experienced in this competition, but they have not lost a competitive fixture on home territory since February.
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Moyes will want to find a balance between naming a strong West Ham XI and giving further minutes to players who need it when making his team selection for Thursday’s game.With Angelo Ogbonna and Vladimir Coufal having both been ruled out by Moyes,
Harrison Ashby could be provided with another chance on the right-hand side of defence.Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola will return between the sticks,
while Flynn Downes and Gianluca Scamacca should feature, but Rice serves the second and final game of his European ban.With Brexit rules having prevented his participation last week, Ibrahim Said could return on the flank for Viborg.Anton Gaaei will again deputise at right
