Garth Crooks has picked West Ham defender Kurt Zouma in his Premier League Team of the Week.

Writing in his column for the BBC, the pundit was full of praise for how the Frenchman has started the season, and he was again impressed with his display in the Hammers’ 2-1 victory against Luton on Friday evening:

“He’s played in all of West Ham’s games this season and been quietly effective in every single one. Zouma was the outstanding defender for the Hammers in their 2-1 win against a Luton Town side that is, so far, just making up the Premier League numbers.”

Zouma was deservedly named the player of the match for his performance against the Hatters. The centre-back got on the scoresheet at Kenilworth Road but, as Crooks mentions, his defending was top-notch too.

Who else made Crooks’ eleven?

Zouma was named in a back three alongside Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and Nottingham Forest centre-back Joe Worrall, who helped his team keep a clean sheet in their shock 1-0 away win against Chelsea. Everton’s Jordan Pickford was selected in goal.

Crooks went with a midfield four of Arsenal pair Declan Rice & Martin Odegaard, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Spurs playmaker James Maddison.

Up front, Brighton’s Evan Ferguson was included, after his hat-trick versus Newcastle, alongside Tottenham’s Son Heung-min and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who also picked up match balls.

Zouma has a big test coming up

In this sort of form, the 28-year-old will have no fear when he goes up against Haaland in their next fixture after the international break.

The Norwegian international scored a hat-trick against Fulham on Saturday so he is in red-hot form but, it would be a real statement from Zouma if he can keep the striker quiet. It will be intriguing to see who comes out on top at the London Stadium later this month.