Key Takeaways:
- James Ward-Prowse was excluded from West Ham’s travelling squad for Nuno Espirito Santo’s managerial debut tonight at Everton
- Ward-Prowse has started every Premier League fixture this season and holds vice-captaincy, but has faced fan criticism
- Santo begins his West Ham tenure with away matches at Everton and Arsenal, before a protest-targeted home game on 20 October
Team Selection Shake-Up as Nuno Takes Charge
James Ward-Prowse has been left out of the West Ham squad for this evening’s match against Everton, marking a significant decision by new manager Nuno Espirito Santo in his first game at the helm. The Portuguese coach stepped in after Graham Potter’s sacking on Saturday, and moved swiftly to stamp his authority on team selection. Notably, there is no injury keeping the 11-cap England midfielder out, despite his status as vice-captain and an ever-present in the Premier League this season.
Hearing that James Ward Prowse has not travelled with the West Ham squad to Everton pic.twitter.com/EWMcfTrO0B
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) September 29, 2025
Ward-Prowse’s Recent Record and History
Despite his leadership as vice-captain and an unbroken run of Premier League starts this campaign, segments of West Ham’s supporters have voiced their frustration with Ward-Prowse’s performances. The 30-year-old, who boasts eight goals and 12 assists in 73 appearances for the Hammers, was given the vice-captaincy under Potter. Last season, Ward-Prowse made 10 appearances for Nottingham Forest during a short-term loan that began on deadline day to facilitate Carlos Soler’s arrival at West Ham. However, he failed to secure regular football at the City Ground and was recalled to West Ham in January.
Tough Run of Fixtures for Nuno’s Hammers
Nuno, now 51, led a training session on Saturday immediately after Potter’s exit, followed by an extended session on Sunday ahead of the squad’s journey to Merseyside, where they face former Hammers manager David Moyes and his Everton team. West Ham’s new boss faces a demanding fixture list early in his tenure, with consecutive away matches against Everton and Arsenal on the horizon prior to the international break.
Supporter Unrest and Upcoming Protests
The first home fixture under Nuno’s stewardship, set for 20 October against Brentford at the London Stadium, has been identified by fan groups as an occasion for a coordinated boycott in continued protest at the club’s ownership. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with substantial numbers of empty seats anticipated due to the planned action. Additionally, protest organisers have indicated intentions to stage a major march prior to the home encounter with Burnley on 8 November.
