West Ham have confirmed Scott Parker will take charge of the team for the match at Cardiff on Wednesday night, less than 24 hours after putting pen to paper on a deal to replace Nuno Espirito Santo – and Hammers News believes he could ring the changes.

One thing West Ham fans know about Scott Parker, he is not one to shirk a challenge.

And that seems to be the case as a manager too with Parker wanting to take charge of the Hammers for the game at Cardiff, when many have opted to take a watching brief in similar situations elsewhere.

Parker will not shirk the challenge of changing up this West Ham team either.

One of the big reasons the Hammers decided to sack Nuno is that data showed the players had stopped running for him, being completely outworked in back-to-back home defeats against Championship rivals Southampton and West Brom.

Parker to bring Areola back as one of six West Ham changes for Cardiff

In fact we believe Parker could make up to six changes for his West Ham managerial debut at Cardiff.

Mads Hermansen has struggled to convince since becoming West Ham’s most expensive goalkeeper of all-time upon joining from relegated Leicester for £15.5m in the summer of 2025.

Alphonse Areola had his own issues when the Hammers were struggling and ultimately lost his place to Hermansen under Nuno and never got it back.

But Parker knows Areola well having signed him at Fulham and the duo are on record as having an excellent relationship. Parker will likely explain that Areola knows what he wants and expects from a goalkeeper as he drops Hermansen in favour of the 6ft 5in Frenchman.

Change two will be enforced with Kyle Walker-Peters expected to be out until after the international break following an injury in the defeat to West Brom. Joel Veltman will come in at right-back to take his place.

Parker is expected to have Konstantinos Mavropanos back from injury and will throw him back in to take the place of youngster Airidas Golambeckis in change number three.

Mavropanos back for Hammers as Piroe gets Parker’s vote

It is a toss up whether Morato will continue in the side or be replaced by Ollie Scarles but Parker could stick with the Brazilian for this one alongside Max Kilman.

Edson Alvarez and Soungoutou Magassa could be in the squad but neither have the necessary match fitness to be thrown in from the start.

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It's a huge game as West Ham head to Cardiff 👀 How do you see this one playing out?

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Hammers News expects Tomas Soucek to replace Divine Mukasa in change four as he takes his place alongside Arne Engels and Mohamadou Kante.

The fifth and sixth changes will come on the wing and up front.

Parker will go with the experience of Manor Solomon over Edvin Austbo from the start in this one while Pablo will make way for Joel Piroe up front.

Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Cardiff:

Areola, Veltman, Mavropanos, Kilman, Morato, Engels, Soucek, Kante, Solomon, Bowen, Piroe.

West Ham can go fifth in the Championship with victory in Wales, one point off Birmingham in the second automatic promotion spot.

While the Hammers face Cardiff, league leaders Middlesbrough will also be in Wales to face Wrexham. If ‘Boro lose and West Ham win on Parker’s debut then his side will have the chance to go top of the table heading into the international break.

The game is live on Sky Sports and Parker’s first West Ham selection will be officially announced at 6.30pm.