The best combined West Ham and Millwall XI ft Jake Cooper & Jarrod Bowen | OneFootball

FLW looks at what the best West Ham and Millwall combined starting eleven looks like

Old foes do battle at The Den on Saturday, as Millwall host West Ham United in the first Dockers Derby in 14 years.

It's one of the fiercest derbies in English football, and one of the first things that everyone looked forward to when West Ham were confirmed to be relegated on the final day of the Premier League campaign last season.

What's even more exciting is that these two sides have promotion on their mind, so this won't be a straight walk in the park for the Hammers, despite their recent Premier League pedigree.

That being said, Nuno Espírito Santo's side are starting to find their groove in the Championship, winning each of their last four and scoring 16 in the process, culminating in that 6-0 demolition of Wrexham last Friday.

Meanwhile, Millwall have been without as many as 16 first-team players for recent games, hence their slight slide after a brilliant start. Alex Neil's side have lost three of their last four.

Because of that injury crisis, this list details a combined eleven based on both of these sides being fully fit. With that in mind, what does the best starting lineup of West Ham and Millwall players look like?

GK - Mads Hermansen

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Even with Lukas Jensen in the picture here, the goalkeeper spot will still go to West Ham's Mads Hermansen, who was one of the many players expected to move on from the London Stadium after the Hammers' relegation.

The Danish international is a Championship winner with Leicester City, and after being benched early on by Graham Potter last season, was reintroduced to the fold under Nuno, keeping six clean sheets in the final 14 Premier League games.

Now back in the second tier, he'll be set to play a big part in a bid to win a second winners' medal in this division.

RB - Tristan Crama

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Defence is where Millwall have a bit of an edge over West Ham. In this case, when fit, Tristan Crama is one of the best right-backs in the division.

The towering six-foot-four Frenchman was forced to play on the right side under Alex Neil, given the personnel already in the middle of the backline in the squad, and he adjusted to the new role brilliantly.

No right-back made more defensive contributions or won more duels in the Championship last season than Crama, and if not for two ankle surgeries over the summer, there'd have been some worry about the 24-year-old moving on.

In the end, he's remained at the Den, but is yet to feature at all this season due to the second ankle surgery.

CB - Konstantinos Mavropanos

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Konstantinos Mavropanos won the Hammer of the Year at West Ham last season, showing his importance to the side and the Premier League level he was playing at, especially towards the end of the campaign.

Again, Hammers fans couldn't believe their luck when the Greek international remained with the club after relegation, and already this season he's performing at a top-flight level.

He's been one of the best ball-playing defenders in the league, wins duels at a good rate, and is the current fifth-highest goalscorer in the entire division...as a centre-back.

West Ham will need to tighten up at the back if their title credentials are to be realised, but it's more a case of raising the level to meet Mavropanos', rather than the 28-year-old needing to improve himself.

CB - Jake Cooper

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It was a bit of a coin flip between Jake Cooper and Caleb Taylor for the other spot, but the veteran takes the position next to Mavropanos.

The 31-year-old's longevity and durability are unmatched. He's played over 40 games in seven of the last nine league campaigns and has featured in all 46 in three of those. The 444 appearances he's made for the Lions now have him third all time in the Millwall ranks.

And throughout his near-decade of service, he's embodied the hard-nosed, difficult-to-break-down nature that Millwall squads are attributed with.

This will be his first derby day, and one that will mean a lot if he comes out on the right side of the result.

LB - Zak Sturge

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Former Chelsea academy graduate Zak Sturge settled into life at a Championship promotion contender very well in his first proper campaign at the level, and it's evident that the 22-year-old has a bright future in the game.

The Millwall man has been one of the few outfielders to have started in every league game so far for Alex Neil's side, and he's contributed well defensively off the left side.

With still plenty of room to grow, too, playing these types of games will definitely help him progress even further.

CM - Tomas Soucek

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Eliminating injuries from the conversation doesn't just apply to Millwall, and while West Ham's midfield has been very good recently, there's no denying that there's a Tomas Soucek-shaped hole in the squad still.

The 31-year-old is back in training now after suffering an ankle injury while at the World Cup with the Czech Republic in late June, making his 93rd cap for his national team.

His return couldn't come quickly enough, as he'd add even more Premier League quality to this stacked West Ham side. Soucek would add an aerial presence to the midfield and make the team even more of a threat from set pieces.

CM - Arne Engels

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Belgian international Arne Engels is showing why West Ham broke the transfer record this summer to sign him from Celtic, spending £22 million on his services.

The 23-year-old has been the man pulling all the strings from a deeper role. He's only taken three shots all season, but ranks in the 90th percentile in numerous passing stats among fellow second-tier central midfielders, such as chances created, pass percentage and accurate long balls.

It's been simple for Engels so far, which is understandable, given the quality ahead of him.

RW - Jarrod Bowen

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Jarrod Bowen is starting to find his feet back in the Championship, which is terrifying for defenders, as he's still averaging a goal contribution per game despite a perceived slow start.

The 29-year-old's qualities are well known. He's a brilliant finisher, but you can't put too much onus on stopping him, as he also creates plenty of chances for his teammates, both from open play and set pieces.

With the number of Premier League appearances under his belt and over 100 goal contributions at the level, it's a bit ridiculous that he's playing in the Championship in his traditional 'prime years,' but it's been a joy to watch thus far, and will likely get even better, too.

LW - Manor Solomon

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Two seasons ago, Manor Solomon registered 10 goals and 12 assists for a Leeds United side that won the Championship with 100 points. Now he's back again, and on his way to likely doing the same.

The Israeli international never really had a chance to prove himself at top-flight level last season, with a couple of dud loan spells at Villarreal and Fiorentina. Now he's got a permanent home again, and the drive to prove that he can make it in the Premier League.

Two goals and an assist in seven league games will go a long way towards doing that, as will completing the most successful dribbles out of any winger in the division in the infancy of the campaign.

ST - Joel Piroe

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Sitting off the main striker is Joel Piroe, who has been one of the premier Championship marksmen over the last five years, and is now back at the level after failing to break into the Leeds fold in the Premier League.

The second tier is almost too easy for the 27-year-old, who has three goals in four starts from just 11 shots on goal in the early stages of the campaign.

That brings his tally up to 76 goals in 185 second-tier appearances; you wouldn't put it past him pushing his total up towards the 90s over the course of the year, with the hope then that he can be given a fair crack at the top flight at the London Stadium.