For several weeks, West Ham United have been able to start the same eleven players. Something of a testimony both to the limited number of games the club has played this season and the excellence of the fitness and well being regime in place.
The only changes have been chosen, rather than enforced: Nuno’s tactical switch against Arsenal meant that three centre backs became the order of the day and forward Pablo was left on the bench.
And it nearly paid off as the Irons’ three centre backs held firm until the painful to watch last ten minutes plus infamous stoppage time events that unfolded.
Spurs’ failure to capitalise on West Hams ‘nil points‘ return last weekend means that the relegation battle carries forward into the penultimate weekend at least. Tottenham’s two point advantage can be cancelled out if the Irons can somehow conjure up a win against the Magpies on Sunday. A point won’t do it, Nuno has to throw caution to the wind.
Quite possibly, he’ll have to do it without winger Adama Traore in his squad. We wondered why the Spanish muscleman didn’t put in an appearance against the Gunners – seemingly there’s a muscle issue which could see him sidelined for West Ham’s most important game of the season. As per thesportsbank.net:
“Adama Traore is a new injury/fitness concern for West Ham United, who otherwise have a pretty fit squad. Traore is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle United, as he’s reportedly dealing with tightness in his quadriceps. It’s a must win game for the Hammers, so if he’s borderline in terms of fitness, he’ll play. They need him, and simply put, they need everyone, because the potential drop to the Championship looms.”
Traore may miss out on a bench spot against Newcastle United.
It does reveal the paucity of talent available to Nuno that if Traore is ruled out, Venezuelan loanee Keiber Lamadrid is likely to0 be the only winger available to the Hammers as a bench alternative.
Which kind of sums up West Ham’s predicament right now.