Hammers may be ready to play weakened team

Claret and Hugh understand the Hammers are ready to play a weakened team if necessary rather than call for the postponement of the Carabao Cup quarter final against Spurs on Wednesday evening.

It’s a big call of course given the semi final place at stake but having made it clear the club want to keep on playing at yesterday’s Premier League meeting, they are understood to be set to back that with a positive decision for the game.

Whilst it’s realistic to believe there may be covid cases in the squad there is no certainty as to how many and obviously the manager will therefore make his  team selection immediately before the game.

Assuming the players mentioned are fit, Ryan Fredericks could get his first taste of action since the Europa League defeat of Rapid Vienna in November having only appeared in one Premier League game this season and for the likes of Nikola Vlasic and maybe Aji Elise and Emmanuel Longelo on the left side.

But there can be no firm team predictions at this stage.