West Ham have received a big boost ahead of the game against Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s outfit suffered a couple of crucial injuries ahead of and during the Champions League clash against Porto last night.
Nathan Ake and Fernandinho are the the latest fitness scares with the former suffering a groin injury before the victory and Fernandinho being forced off with a muscle problem only five minutes after his introduction as a substitute.
There are now concerns over six first-team players ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Ham, with Aymeric Laporte, Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus and Benjamin Mendy also missing for the Champions League opener.
De Bruyne and Laporte are expected to start light training on Thursday but the Premier League clash against the Hammers may come too soon.
The City boss added: “‘It is bad news with Fernandinho,’ Guardiola said. ‘He has a problem in his leg, he could be out for four or six weeks.
‘We are getting players coming back and now we lose some others. In three days we go to London, then three days it’s Marseille and then three days it’s Sheffield United.
Meanwhile, David Moyes has a fully fit squad to pick from as we look to continue an unbeaten run of three games against 11th placed City.
The manager has to decide whether Said Benrahma gets the shout to start but is probably more likely to stick with last weeks team although Issa Diop – now recovered from Covid could be recalled to the defence.
If we could just get rid of Stirling somehow from their lineup. Maybe we could send in the Tottenham lasagnagate food poisoning unit on another special undercover mission.
I am of a somewhat different opinion. I want to see how our current squad squares up against the best. I believe we would perform better than the bookies suggest.
Regardless, ManC’s seconds would start for the majority of EPL teams.
Best thing about these European competitions. Injuries to other teams. Hope we never get into Euro rubbish.
Kiwihammer has a back-up plan. Might have legs. Great thinking Kiwi
COYI
LAst week the good news was that Harry Kane was out of form / had a knock – so now I’m a bit wary of this sort of good news
Yes I understand but this time it comes from Guardiola in quotes 🙂