Earlier today I saw the Newcastle v West Ham match promoted by a Claret and Hugh colleague as ‘Lopetegui’s last game’. Whether he survives or not will largely be decided by the outcome of the match at St James’ Park: A huge West Ham loss could very well tip the Hammers board over the edge and force their hand.
News today will certainly have Hammers fans heads shaking in disappointment as it seems West Ham’s nemesis Callum Wilson is back training with Eddie Howe’s team in advance of the game under lights. We need no reminder that Wilson has an absolutely hideous record of twelve goals in twelve starts agains the Irons.
Wilson has been out with a recurring back problem. Two weeks ago he was expected to be ‘out’ for this game but – shock, horror, of course, times his recovery to perfection as his favourite victims come visiting next week.
Newcastle coach Eddie Howe is reported by geordiebootboys.com as confirming:“He’s doing well. We anticipate he’s going to train with the group today. Whether he’s quite there for West Ham, let’s see. But he has to get through the next few days in training first.”
Callum Wilson’s good buddy Michail Antonio has today been the subject of news linking him with a move to Galatasary – so for both, this game could mark the end of an era of competition which Wilson has won spectacularly.
Difficult at this stage to be sure if Howe’s words are bluff or reality. But West Ham fans just know in their heart of hearts that Wilson will be there and is a nailed-on goalscorer, quite possibly also a ‘nail in the coffin’ of Lopeteguis’ tenure at London Stadium. I can hardly bear to watch.
Michail Antonio will never want to go to Galatasary. As much chance of that happening as Jarrod Bowen wanting to live in Newcastle.
COYI
I’m fairly sure I won’t be the only one who thought this might be an article about a West Ham striker 🙄