Matchday at London Stadium, and following players’ twitter x and instagram accounts has become part and parcel of establishing who is likely to be announced in the squad: Cryptic posts offer hints and it seems there’s been a big one with some lovely ramifications for West Ham watchers.
Last night Emerson Palmieri posted on his instagram stories account a big hint that he is over his ‘knee knock’ and will be starting against his former club.
Which I’d been hoping for a couple of reasons – firstly because he’s by far the best left back available and secondly because it frees our best right back Aaron Wan Bissaka to play in his natural position and face off against a former Manchester United team mate.
Emerson’s instagram post hints that he’s raring to go against his former club
Without Wan-Bissaka on his favoured right side, I’d have been a bit concerned about Jason Sancho. The former England International is now on loan at Chelsea this season, having spent last season on loan from his parent club Manchester United at Borussia Dortmund. During that spell in Germany he ended up playing in the Champions League Final and becoming, if only briefly, the top scoring English player in the Bundesliga.
Had Sancho been lining up against Vlad Coufal I’d have been a bit anxious: The Czech has been a great servant but I’d see him struggling for pace to keep up with the Chelsea loanee. However, Emerson’s fitness means that the Hammer with the nickname of ‘The Spider’ – with the telescopic legs – should be restored to his right-back position and lies in wait for Sancho who plays predominantly on the left side. An intriguing battle ahead, and proof of how far West Ham have come in their player recruitment that we now have defenders of the calibre of Wan-Bissaka ready to do battle in Claret and Blue.
Can’t wait for the team announcement!
That Jason Sancho can be dangerous on his day…