The Eintracht Frankfurt analysts in attendance at the London Stadium, doing their homework ahead of Thursday, will have been as surprised as anyone by David Moyes’s line-up.
Stronger than expected, it included Jarrod Bowen in attack, Declan Rice in midfield and Kurt Zouma in defence, starting his second game in four days since returning from an ankle injury.
What those Frankfurt analysts will have noted was how, if West Ham are to produce a famous comeback in Germany, it is Bowen who will be their tormentor.
If they’re going to do a ‘Gulliver’ job on anyone, he’s the one they need to tie down.