West Ham United supporters were given plenty to talk about during the final stages of the summer transfer window.
The Hammers underwent another dramatic period of change as Nuno Espírito Santo continued his attempt to rebuild the squad and put together a team capable of fighting for an immediate return to the Premier League.
There were arrivals.
There were departures.
There were late negotiations.
And, perhaps most importantly, there were concerns about whether the squad had enough quality and depth in certain positions to survive what promises to be a long and demanding Championship campaign.
The biggest concern appeared to emerge after two significant departures on deadline day.
West Ham said goodbye to players who had provided options in the defensive areas, leaving Nuno with a problem that supporters immediately began discussing.
The departures created questions about squad depth and whether the Hammers had enough alternatives available to deal with injuries, suspensions and the relentless schedule of the Championship.
But just when the situation appeared to be becoming increasingly complicated…
NUNO HAS BEEN HANDED A HUGE BOOST.
And remarkably, it does not necessarily involve another new signing.
Instead, the answer could come from a player who has already been inside the club’s squad.
A player who has been waiting patiently to get back onto the pitch.
A player whose return could prove extremely important over the next few weeks.
PABLO FELIPE IS BACK.
The Brazilian forward’s return from injury could provide Nuno with an additional option at a crucial point in the season.
Pablo suffered a calf problem that kept him out of action, leaving West Ham without one of their attacking options during an important period.
His absence was particularly frustrating because Nuno is attempting to establish a completely new-look team.
The manager needs competition for places.
He needs players capable of changing games from the bench.
And, perhaps more importantly, he needs enough quality to rotate his squad without dramatically reducing the team’s attacking threat.
That is why Pablo’s return could be much bigger than it initially appears.
Before his injury, expectations had been high around the Brazilian.
But rather than rushing him back into action, West Ham carefully managed his rehabilitation.
The forward eventually returned to the matchday squad before being handed a starting opportunity against Wolves.
And that decision from Nuno was significant.
The manager didn’t simply bring Pablo back and leave him on the bench.
HE STARTED HIM.
That immediately demonstrated how important the player could be to Nuno’s plans.
Pablo operated in an attacking role as West Ham finally produced the type of performance their supporters had been waiting for.
The Hammers defeated Wolves 4-2 at London Stadium, securing their first Championship victory of the campaign.
Suddenly, the mood around the club changed.
The result provided West Ham with three crucial points, but it also gave Nuno something arguably just as important — confidence in the players available to him.
And that could be particularly valuable following the chaos of deadline day.
West Ham had already seen important players leave, with El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka among the departures that affected their defensive options.
The exits inevitably created concerns.
Could Nuno cope if another defender suffered an injury?
Would the Hammers have enough depth across the season?
And could the new arrivals settle quickly enough to prevent West Ham from falling further behind the promotion contenders?
Those questions were partially addressed by the club’s late transfer activity.
West Ham completed deals for Morato and Adama Boiro, strengthening the defensive department and giving Nuno additional options.
But the return of Pablo could address another issue entirely.
The attacking department.
A Championship promotion campaign cannot be won with a handful of players.
The season is simply too long.
There will be periods when important players are unavailable.
There will be suspensions.
There will be fatigue.
There will be injuries.
And there will be matches where Nuno needs to change his attacking approach during the second half.
That is where having Pablo available could become extremely important.
His versatility gives Nuno another player who can operate in advanced areas and potentially provide a different attacking threat depending on the opposition.
And after seeing him trusted immediately against Wolves, supporters have every reason to believe that the manager considers him an important part of his plans.
The timing could hardly be better.
West Ham had endured a frustrating beginning to their Championship campaign, collecting just two points from their opening three league matches.
That inevitably increased pressure on Nuno.
The Hammers were expected to compete near the top of the table, but the opening results suggested there was still plenty of work to do.
The 4-2 victory over Wolves finally provided a response.
However, one victory does not solve everything.
The real challenge begins now.
West Ham must build momentum.
And for that to happen, Nuno needs as many of his key players available as possible.
Pablo’s return therefore represents more than simply another name on the team sheet.
It gives the manager another weapon.
It gives him another player to rotate.
And it gives West Ham supporters another reason to believe that the squad can handle the demands of the Championship.
There is also an interesting subplot surrounding players who were expected to leave.
Edson Álvarez and Soungoutou Magassa were both linked with moves away from London Stadium before the deadline, but neither departure materialised.
That means Nuno could potentially have more options than he initially expected.
The manager now has to turn that depth into results.
And that is where the pressure really lies.
West Ham cannot afford to simply rely on their reputation.
They need performances.
They need consistency.
And they need their biggest players to stay fit.
The return of Pablo could therefore be one of the most important developments of the opening weeks of the campaign.
The Brazilian has already shown that Nuno is prepared to trust him after injury.
Now the question is whether he can stay fit and become a regular contributor as West Ham attempt to climb the Championship table.
For supporters who were worried about the impact of the double deadline-day exit, there is finally some positive news.
The club may have lost important options.
But Nuno has gained one back.
And judging by the manager’s decision against Wolves, he clearly believes the returning forward can make a difference.
West Ham’s season is still in its early stages.
There is plenty of football to come.
But if Pablo can remain fit, the Hammers could have just received the boost they desperately needed.
AND AFTER THE CHAOTIC DEADLINE DAY, THAT COULD TURN OUT TO BE A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR NUNO ESPÍRITO SANTO AND WEST HAM UNITED.
