David Gold is very hopeful that Manu Lanzini and Andy Carroll will join recently recovered Enner Valencia for the clash against strugglers Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
Valencia came through the match at Swansea untroubled and brought some much needed creativity to affairs in the closing stages seeing one well struck shot palmed over and providing some much needed trickery.
Nikica Jelavic looks certain to be dropped after a painful performance and will be replaced by Carroll but it’s the Lanzini return which is the most eagerly awaited.
The Argentinian has made a far faster than expected recovery and is expected to undergo a scan today in order to allow the medical staff to kick on.
Gold tweeted: If all goes well Carroll, Valencia and Lanzini will all be available for Villa. Sakho, Reid Moses and Payet are all progressing well. dg
Great to see them all come back,shame for the others that they have not been able to prove themselves
Will certainly be good to have Lanzini back, as he combines extremely well with Zarate, and they together should add some dynamism to the team’s play that has (by necessity) been missing the last couple of weeks