West Ham are facing up to a week that could be make-or-break for Julen Lopetegui.
Fresh from visiting his 94-year-old father during the international break, Lopetegui knows the writing could be on the wall for him if the Hammers are beaten by Newcastle at St James’ Park on Monday and then at home to Arsenal next Saturday.
These are West Ham’s two toughest fixtures this side of Christmas. In normal circumstances, losing one or both of them would not be catastrophic.
But Lopetegui has really struggled to impart his ideas on players and fans since joining in the summer and his team are just three points above the relegation zone.
A crucial week for Lopetegui is also a big week for his defence, which has already conceded 19 goals in 11 Premier League games.
Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Aaron Wan-Bissaka mean three-quarters of West Ham’s new-look back-line are summer recruits.
Kilman has been so-so, but of those only Wan-Bissaka has made a strong impression.
Defensive midfielder Edson Alvarez is back from suspension for Newcastle and must take personal responsibility for his worsened form.
So too must goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who Lopetegui understandably dropped for Lukasz Fabianski after last month’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham.
The back four, plus Alvarez and whichever goalkeeper starts, must rise to the challenge of facing a rapid and well-oiled Newcastle front three of Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Joelinton.
Lopetegui will have taken note of the moments his side have been crippled by losses of concentration this season.
They conceded twice in three minutes at Anfield in the Carabao Cup in September and three times in just eight second-half minutes at Tottenham last month.
Yet belated signs of defensive cohesion were detectable in their final game before the international break, when West Ham restricted Everton to an expected goals tally of just 0.87 and earned a creditable clean sheet in a goalless draw at the London Stadium.
Wins are the currency for Lopetegui and 14th-place West Ham but the foundation for victory is having a strong defence.
The Everton draw aside, the Hammers have not shown they have one yet.
A trip to St James' Park will certainly test whether the Everton game was a sign of things to come or merely a happy blip.
While it is a tough ask for West Ham to turn a corner in a week when they visit Newcastle and host Arsenal, Lopetegui knows he has no option but to deliver results immediately.
