Craig Dawson looks certain to remain at the Hammers until the end of the season.

The central defender has again become crucial to the squad following surgery to Kurt Zouma and the injury suffered by Nayef Aguerd.

The Morocco international returns to Rush Green tomorrow but there can be no certainty he will be ready for the game on Boxing Day evening at the Emirates after missing the last of his national team’s World Cup games with a thigh injury.

And with Zouma not expected to return to action until mid January and Angelo Ogbonna at  nowhere near his best it looks impossible for Daws to move further north for personal reasons as he had hoped .

The player may not have been at his best this season but the same can be said for most of a team which needs to pick things up big time from Boxing Day evening and onwards.