Opinion: Lopetegui Delighted as England Overlooks West Ham Star

Max Kilman, the centre-back, has started in all 11 of West Ham United’s Premier League matches this season, forming effective partnerships with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo since joining in the summer.

Kilman arrived from Wolves for £40 million during the transfer window, with high expectations for his impact at London Stadium, and he has not disappointed.

While manager Julen Lopetegui’s defensive setup has struggled, with the team slipping to 14th in the Premier League table, Kilman’s calm presence at the back has been valuable, and the defensive issues cannot be solely attributed to him.

Kilman’s journey from his early playing days at Maidenhead United to becoming an established Premier League defender is remarkable, and Lopetegui may be relieved that England has not called him up.

Despite his impressive form at Wolves and now West Ham, Kilman has yet to be included in the England squad.

The national team, led by Lee Carsley, is currently dealing with multiple injuries, leaving players like Levi Colwill and John Stones unavailable for Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite recently pulled out, creating a vacancy that Kilman could have filled, but the call-up went to Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah instead.

This means Kilman will stay at home during the international break, allowing Lopetegui to keep one of his key defenders fit for the Premier League campaign.

Although earning an England cap would have marked another milestone in Kilman’s unconventional career, Lopetegui’s priority is to maintain Kilman’s fitness and performance for West Ham’sseason.