By Will Butcher
Slaven Bilic is likely to have a selection dilemma on his hands after West Ham’s Pedro Obiang was ruled out for the rest of the season – and fans want Havard Nordtveit to replace him.
It was revealed on Monday that Spanish midfielder Obiang was set to miss West Ham’s remaining nine league matches after suffering an ankle injury.
That leaves Croatian boss Bilic with a midfield headache on his hands, as he weighs up the potential candidates in his side that can partner captain Mark Noble in the middle of the park.
Edimilson Fernandes, Cheikhou Kouyate and Havard Nordtveit will all be considered to fill the void left by Obiang, ahead of their next match against Hull on April 1.
However, West Ham fans are adamant on Twitter that they want to see summer signing Nordtveit replace Obiang, despite a poor start to life at the London Stadium following his move from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer.
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Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
My team for Hull-
Randolph-Byram, Collins, Kouyate, Cresswell- Fernandes, Nordtveit- Antonio, Lanzini, Ayew- Carroll— IronsHome (@Irons_Home) March 19, 2017
BREAKING NEWS!! Håvard Nordtveit may actually play a game of football in his actual position. #WestHam
— Rob Waldon WHUFC ⚒ (@RobWaldon) March 20, 2017
I can see Nordtveit getting some game time now…
— 🥊⚒DAVE⚒🥊 (@OfficialBigDave) March 20, 2017
Oxford won't get recalled due to Kouyate and Nordtveit being able to fill in at centre half with Ginge or Fonte.
— AL (@6_AaronLee) March 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/WHU_MR2013/status/843812130868682752
Season is over ffs.We're gonna stay up and finish 13th, however Nordtveit might get some game time and Oxford and Martinez must be recalled
— Jack (@_JackWHU) March 20, 2017
I guess we'll be seeing the return of Nordtveit and more of Fernandes…along with Kouyate filling in at CB.
— West Hamerica (@WestHamerica) March 20, 2017
Nordtveit needs to start
— IronsHome (@Irons_Home) March 19, 2017
Norway international Nordtveit has featured just twice since the turn of the year, after suffering an ankle injury of his own.
However, the former Arsenal trainee is now fit to return to Bilic’s side and could be handed just his ninth league start in claret and blue against Marco Silva’s Hull.
In other West Ham news, the injury to Obiang could also affect Liverpool and here is why.
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