James Ward-Prowse’s West Ham future is under the spotlight after he was omitted from the squad entirely for Monday night’s trip to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium — Nuno Espírito Santo’s first game in charge. The midfielder had started every match under Graham Potter before the managerial change.

What happened

Ward-Prowse, a senior figure and the Hammers’ primary set-piece taker, was not named in the matchday group for Nuno’s debut. There has been no official explanation from the club or player’s camp.

Why it matters

Under Potter, Ward-Prowse was central to West Ham’s build-up and dead-ball threat. Removing him from the squad on day one suggests a tactical reset or an immediate selection statement from Nuno.

The rumour mill (and what we can actually say)

Speculation online ranges from a clash of ideas to dressing-room tensions. There are also claims about prior friction — but Ward-Prowse and Nuno did not work together at Nottingham Forest, so any suggestion of a historic fallout there is misplaced. Until there’s confirmation, this remains unverified noise. The only firm fact is his omission.

Form and value

Even in a stuttering side, Ward-Prowse has been among the league’s most consistent chance creators this season, adding set-piece delivery and leadership to open-play contribution — the profile that made him a marquee signing.

The Saints

As soon as the team sheet dropped, Saints fans began calling for a reunion in January. A return would tick every emotional box on the South Coast, but any move would hinge on West Ham’s stance, the new manager’s plans, and the market for an England-capped midfielder mid-season.

What happens next

• Nuno’s selection vs the next fixtures will tell us if this was a one-off call or the start of a new hierarchy.
• Club communications: any clarification from West Ham or Nuno will reset the narrative quickly.
• January window: if the omission becomes a pattern, expect concrete links to surface — Southampton will inevitably be mentioned.

Bottom line: Ward-Prowse’s exclusion in Nuno’s first game is a headline decision. Until there’s confirmation from the club, treat the exit talk as speculation — but if he stays on the outside looking in, a January story writes itself.