Hoping to get valuable points on the board on Saturday, West Ham return to Championship football following a successful Carabao Cup victory at Southampton on Tuesday night.
The Hammers will await Nuno’s pre-match press conference this afternoon for news of any injuries sustained in the fixture at St Mary’s that may affect availability.
Pablo was ruled out of the cup game alongside Tomas Soucek who is still recovering from the summer injury sustained in the World Cup – but is due back in around three weeks’ time now.
Watford’s official web site provides an update with the news that five home players will be missing for West Ham’s visit:
“Marc Bola (hamstring), Kwadwo Baah (thigh), [former West Ham defender] Jeremy Ngakia (hamstring)-main pic, Jack Grieves (knee) and Travis Akomeah (foot) remain sidelined.”
Five players missing obviously on the face of it gives Nuno’s Hammers a boost ahead of the fixture: West Ham with-contracted-but-soon-to- be departing Alvarez, Todibo, Diouf and Ward-Prowse, have a small enough squad to select from themselves.
One to start against the Hornets: Lewis Orford
Hammers fans are not holding their breath that anyone new is likely to come through the door in time for the Saturday fixture: However the squad urgently needs centre back, left back and winger improvements before the window closes on Tuesday.
Against Watford, the Irons are more likely to build on the youngsters’ performances from midweek, several of whom will retain their places on the bench whilst you’d feel Lewis Orford a certainty for a start again.
Our full Watford v West Ham United match preview follows tomorrow morning.
Wtf are we doing why would we give saints JWP doesn’t make sense FFS. I don’t think Nuno is the right man or maybe someone above him. All the money we have received and we have brought no-one with real quality Engels but he’s been playing in Scotland jeezo I’m worried as a hammer I’m very worried… One thing for certain Bowen won’t be here next season that’s a fact …..
If we had 5 missing we would struggle to fill the bench. I make it 21 here for the season and first team ready including the young academy talents of Mayers, Golambeckis, Orford and Ajala. Just as well there are only 2 of the 21 out injured.