With an EFL Cup fixture against Blackburn Rovers looming tonight, West Ham United have been handed a draw that is far tougher than initially seemed.

The Lancashire club are in a rich vein of form, having won five of their last six in the Championship, which has allowed them to break into the automatic promotion spots.

Not only this, but their lead marksman Ben Brereton-Diaz seems once again to have found his form, and will be looking to show the Hammers exactly what he is about with reports continuing to link him with a move there. He has nine goals already this league campaign.

David Moyes will have to decide on his priorities with this match in mind, but one decision he must make is to return Pablo Fornals to the starting lineup.

Not only does he offer a tricky and clinical option in the midfield, but it could provide some added rest for the likes of Lucas Paqueta or even Jarrod Bowen for their Premier League game this weekend.

Having been benched for their clash with Crystal Palace, the £22m-rated man was their standout performer in midweek as they cruised to victory over FCSB to top their Europa Conference League group.

His two goals earned him a 9.2 rating, as he stood up when his youthful teammates needed him most. 

The Spaniard was at his creative best in this game, with his 65 touches managing two key passes and a 93% pass accuracy.

A brace marked his third goal of the season, with his other being the only goal in their narrow win over Aston Villa.

Likely with aspirations of a run in the competition, Moyes will be keen on getting a result of some sort tonight. To do that, he might actually have to remove Bowen from the team given his lack of form.

With just two league goals so far in 14 games, he is a shadow of the marksman that found the net 12 times and assisted 12 more.

Fornals would provide a touch of class and a calmness to pick apart a resilient Rovers defence, using his “skilful” assets to full effect, as labelled by David Cartlidge.

It is something of a no-brainer, as he is a more than capable stand-in to face a stubborn lower-league opposition.