Mauricio Pochettino has opted for a solitary alteration from last week’s draw against Liverpool for today’s match against West Ham at the London Stadium.

Can Malo Gusto replace James?

Malo Gusto steps in to replace the injured Reece James. Certainly, James’ absence is a setback. His world-class abilities leave a notable void and weaken the team’s lineup. However, the preseason performance of Gusto was impressive, and this substitution is far less detrimental than it might have been a year ago.

“Malo Gusto’s peformance was impressive” – Pochettino

Pochettino highlighted this in his pre-game interview: “The positive aspect is that Malo Gusto has been consistently excelling in pre-season training right from the beginning, challenging Reece James for the same position,” noted the Argentine coach. If Gusto replicates his preseason form in his first Premier League start, the disappointment over James’ absence might quickly fade away.

After West Ham defeat 3 -1, The Blues can count on Malo?

In fact, we could witness our new signing shine even sooner than anticipated. This tactical setup is tailor-made for attacking wing-backs, offering Gusto an excellent platform to showcase his abilities to the fans. After West Ham defeat 3 -1, Malo surely need more to prove himself.