It was revealed earlier in the week that Cyle Larin and Flynn Downes were doubts for the trip to the London Stadium. Larin is Eckert’s top scorer with seven goals, more than any West Ham player; Jarrod Bowen is Nuno’s most reliable marksman with six.

Downes, who had a brief and forgettable spell under David Moyes from 2022 to 2024, also picked up an injury. Described by Eckert as a natural-born ‘leader’, Downes is Southampton’s most effective midfielder out of possession, averaging more tackles per game than any other. So his absence, and that of Larin, will only raise hopes among the home crowd that West Ham will end the weekend top of the table, although that depends on whether Swansea slip up at Queens Park Rangers.

Southampton lose Cyle Larin and Flynn Downes for West Ham United clash

Another former Hammer, Divin Mubama has struggled since joining Southampton on loan from Manchester City. He is left on the bench despite Larin’s absence.

This means that Lewis Dobbin, who is yet to score in nine Championship matches and missed a gilt-edged chance in last week’s stalemate with Bolton Wanderers, leads the line.

Eckert does have Caspar Jander fit again, though. The German was excellent last season, and replaces Downes in the XI. He starts alongside James Ward-Prowse, another familiar face, at the heart of the pitch.

Speaking on Friday, Eckert believes that set-pieces will be key today. West Ham boast Europe’s top-scoring centre-back in Konstantinos Mavropanos, after all.

The battle between he and the giant Keven Schlotterbeck is a real ‘clash of the titans’. At the other end, Larin aside, Finn Azaz is the only Saints player to have more than two league goals.

“I think that they are slightly different based on who they play up top, and if they play with two strikers up top or one and another one that drops down,” Eckert said. “So we have prepared for both scenarios and the way that they set up.

“And then I think a big part of it comes down to set-pieces. If we manage to control that, I think that we have a good chance of playing a good game.

“Structure-wise, I think there’s quite a lot that West Ham are very consistent in, the way they do things, especially against the ball. I think that we had some good spells in the game and then what the game shows you, and I think that’s been a common theme with West Ham this season, is that they make their way into games on a set-piece.

“That’s not just been against us in the cup. It’s been the same in many, many other games and I think that’s going to be very important for us that we have our moments in open play and make sure that we become a threat on the set-pieces that we have, and make sure that we are solid down the other [end].”