West Ham fighting distractions as survival battle reaches final chapter

Ahead of the season finale this weekend, Nuno Espirito Santo’s task is clear: To keep West Ham’s disparate personalities – many of whom are about to head off on World Cup journeys with their national sides – focussed on overcoming the last day threat offered by Daniel Farke’s Leeds United.

Several are linked with sales in the event of relegation – and the Hammers manager himself has been the subject of speculation that he’ll walk away if relegated – but Nuno has somehow to keep the distractions for him and his players at bay.

The Portuguese manager needs to conjure up a starting eleven with more back bone than the Irons showed at St James’ Park when Newcastle trampled the Hammers underfoot in the first twenty minutes.

Jarrod Bowen himself revealed to Sky Sports how he will plan his own future – but confirmed he’s giving no energy to thoughts of his own position at the club until the final whistle is blown on this wretched season.

Speaking with Sky Sports, Bowen revealed he’s looking no further ahead than Sunday:

“My heart is here, my love is for this club: I’ve got to put all my energy into this week”

When asked if he saw himself as part of the rebuild if the Hammers are relegated:

I sit down at the end of every season and decide what’s the best for me, what’s my gut feeling, and make a decision and go from there.

There’s a lot of things that can happen before then. It’s one of the biggest weeks of my career.. I haven’t even thought about the future. “

Batting away questions about his future are hardly surprising given the speculation now linking Bowen with Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United.

But something in that interview suggests to me that the Hammers’ captain isn’t quite ready to just walk away from the club which – by his own admission- ‘means everything to him‘. As Bowen says, it’s a big week.