West Ham United are set to get the Julen Lopetegui era underway against Aston Villa

After a busy summer transfer window, West Ham United are set to get the Julen Lopetegui era underway against Aston Villa.

The Hammers welcome Unai Emery’s side to the London Stadium on Saturday (17 August) as they look to start the Premier League season with a win in front of their home crowd.

Lopetegui has eight new signings to call upon and while it is unlikely they all start, one man who simply has to feature from the off is former Manchester United man Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Will Aaron Wan-Bissaka play for West Ham after Manchester United transfer?

Discussing the defender’s fitness, the Irons boss told Sky Sports (15 August): “Let’s see it is tomorrow we are going to have the decision.

“He has played in the position with Manchester United in enough minutes, but it is true that his first training session was yesterday so we will see tomorrow. We’re going to check tomorrow.”

While the former Real Madrid boss was very noncommittal, Wan-Bissaka should pick himself as the Irons look to try and stop the Aston Villa attack, particularly Morgan Rogers.

Few fullbacks in the Premier League are as effective as the new West Ham man when it comes to stopping dribblers. Last term, he tackled 73.1 per cent of players who looked to beat him, according to Fbref.

That record sees him place in the 93rd percentile of his positional peers, meaning only seven per cent of Premier League fullbacks were more successful in the tackle.

The 26-year-old demonstrated that ability in the FA Cup final last term where he won 75 per cent of his four ground duels and came away with possession in two of his three attempted tackles, according to Fotmob.

This defensive stability will be crucial against Rogers who really hit the ground running in the Premier League last term.

Last term, the Villa winger completed more successful take-ons per 90 minutes than 87 per cent of Premier League attacking midfielders, with an average of 2.4 a game.

On average, the former Middlesbrough man only lost possession during 36.4 per cent of take-ons, a record only bettered by 12 per cent of his positional peers in England’s top flight.

If the Villa man does beat his man and get into a scoring position, he can be incredibly ruthless in front of goal. His shot conversion rate last term was in the top one per cent of wingers as he overperformed his xG by an average of 0.23 every week.

In Rogers’ last Premier League start against Chelsea, he showed that clinical edge as he scored once with a right-footed first-half effort that only possessed an xG of 0.06.

If Lopetegui’s Hammers want to get their season underway with three points, they’re going to need to do everything that can to shut down Villa’s left wing and therefore Rogers.

While Vladimir Coufal has been an excellent servant in East London, he is nowhere near as solid defensively as the Englishman.

West Ham simply have to risk Wan-Bissaka and throw him into the fold from the off. If they don’t they could well regret their decision.

In other West Ham news, the Hammers have agreed a seven-figure deal with Manchester City as one striker is set for a medical