Thirty friendly minutes have reopened a door that seemed firmly shut. However, a competitive comeback still depends on Nuno Espírito Santo’s selection.
Edson Álvarez could feature when West Ham host Queens Park Rangers on Friday, October 9. After nearly two months without official action, Mexico’s midfielder has fresh grounds for hope. Nevertheless, the manager’s latest availability update stops short of promising him a place.
Nuno leaves selection open before Friday’s derby
West Ham team news offers encouragement ahead of the London Stadium fixture. Nuno identified Keiber Lamadrid as the clear injury absentee during Thursday’s press conference.
However, West Ham’s official squad update contains no commitment to select the Mexican. General availability leaves the coach free to choose his preferred midfield.
Meanwhile, Mohamadou Kanté will miss the match through suspension following his dismissal against Millwall. That absence changes the options without automatically settling the selection.
Wycombe minutes provide the first opening
AS México reports that Álvarez played approximately 30 minutes against Wycombe Wanderers on October 2. He entered around the hour mark during the closed door friendly at Rush Green.
Meanwhile, West Ham won 2-0 through goals from Tomáš Souček and Joël Piroe. Those minutes gave the midfielder an opportunity to regain match rhythm.
His previous competitive appearance came against Portsmouth on August 8 in the Carabao Cup. Therefore, this was an in season training fixture, rather than a preseason appearance.
Souček’s progress keeps the competition alive
Another returning midfielder complicates any assumption about a clear route into the team. Souček completed 65 minutes against Wycombe after recovering from an ankle ligament injury.
Moreover, Nuno praised the Czech international’s rehabilitation and training before the derby. His involvement gives West Ham another option as league football resumes.
Still, Edson Álvarez has something tangible to build upon after his own friendly appearance. Selection now depends on how the coaching staff assess the available combinations.
Edson Álvarez awaits the QPR squad announcement
Friday’s QPR clash arrives with West Ham second after eight Championship rounds. Four wins, three draws and one defeat have produced 15 points.
Meanwhile, Julien Stéphan’s visitors sit sixth and have also lost only once. West Ham could move top with victory before the remaining weekend fixtures.
However, Nuno’s pre-match comments focus on improving his team’s starts after the 2-2 draw against Millwall. He wants the hosts to take the initiative rather than chase the game.
That demand provides context for the midfield decision.
Midfield balance matters more than the comeback headline
A holding midfielder can protect centre backs by closing passing lanes and contesting second balls. However, those defensive duties must connect with reliable distribution when possession changes.
For example, quick passes after a recovery can release teammates before opponents reorganise. Supporting that transition requires positioning, communication and sharp decisions under pressure.
This is tactical context, rather than confirmation of Nuno’s intended lineup. Nevertheless, it explains why friendly participation alone cannot decide who starts a demanding league match.
The exact second you finish your betstar77 register and fire up that betstar77 login, you hold all the keys to the platform. But let’s be real, placing bets without a strict cut off point is the fastest way to kill the mood. Take a brief timeout and lock in a hard number on what you are actually comfortable spending today.
Join BetStar77 Mexico
Explore sports and casino games from your own account.
Explore cash-in promotions
Review available offers and their terms before adding funds.
