David Moyes will make his final decision on Mikey Antonio’s involvement against Brighton and Hove Albion on Boxing Day after final conversations with the Hammers Head of Medical Services Richard Collinge.
Both the manager, backroom staff and the medics are determined to take no chances whatsoever with the Hammers top man but hopes are still on the rise that he may be able to play some part.
It’s unlikely he would start but we understand the current thinking is that he may be able to make a 20 minute or so appearance if required on March 27.
However, no final decisions will be made until the day before the game with the club totally refusing to gamble on his long term fitness following the most careful rehab .
The manager may be tempted to change things for the game with a number of players perhaps needing to be rested over the busy period which sees us take on the Seagulls, followed two days later by a trip to Southampton and another to Everton on New Year’s Day.
That could mean outings for the likes of Issa Diop, Andriy Yarmolenko or Robert Snodgrass, for example, as the manager uses his squad to the full.
We have a decent bench. Why not play 4-4-2 and rest Cressy with Johnson playing LB? Those named above should be given a run. Haller needs to be in the stands.