David Moyes will make a late decision on whether to involve Michail Antonio in his starting X1 against Newcastle today at the London Stadium.
The Hammer of the Year returned to training only yesterday with the manager saying he remained a doubt but he will make a decision nearer 3pm.
Manu Lanzini is serving out his suspension but Cheik Kouyate could return with skipper Mark Noble missing through injury.
Newcastle will be without striker Aleksandar Mitrovic who has a back injury, and Jesus Gamez has had ankle surgery whilst .Jonjo Shelvey is still serving a suspension.
Manager Rafael Benitez will assess several players with minor injuries.
Moyes, meanwhile, is looking to continue the team’s improvement and said: “My ambition is to be at the top, it always is, but doing that is small steps. It’s a long journey.
“Quite often supporters don’t like that. We’re not necessarily a club who will spend hundreds of millions to get there in the short term.
“So we need to rely on our youth policy and trying to develop the club will get you there. It takes time.”
If there is ‘a G-d in the Sky’, may he/she make ‘Mikey’ fit for the Newcastle game.
Watch Antonio run 100m in < 11.0 secs in his playing boots..
I'm sure he was inspired by the film, 'Chariots of Fire'
COYI
If Antonio isn’t fit I would play Sahko & Chicharito up front who actually work well together so it come together a lil 10m a Stoke.Their styles complement each other well. Sahko has pace & van hold up & link up & Chic will run create space & finish be in right spot.
I’d have them up front w Arnie behind in #10 role w Lanzini out so he can roam & create.
I love Ant he has been my fav even at RB but I don’t want to risk him & even if doesn’t start off the bench can have huge impact w his pace but worry if he plays & not sure of fitness Moyes will wait to Sub him to late.
But we will see. And Chic has to start playing some still our top scorer in PL but he will start getting annoyed of not played.
And like Sahko or not he is our most rounded CF has pace we need & scores. He wants to play & whenever you break the wage structure w #2 Gk & Bench CF too earners it will cause some disrest. They dropped him from £32k to £20k but £30k extra if starts or £15k off bench. So still starting him he wouldn’t make more then most our players besides youth & Lanzini bf he hasn’t signed.
Either way up we see another clean sheet & 3 goals⚒