West Ham have received a massive boost ahead of Monday night’s Premier League clash after Crystal Palace picked up a couple of key injuries in Europe.
Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix were both forced off during the Eagles’ 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina — a result that still saw them progress to the Europa Conference League semi-finals with a 4-2 aggregate win.
Glasner shows his priorities
Oliver Glasner went strong for the tie, which tells you everything about where Palace’s focus is right now.
With Premier League safety all but secured, it’s pretty clear European glory is the priority.
Two key players now doubts
Wharton has been excellent again this season — back in the England squad and attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United.
Lacroix is just as important, especially after Palace lost Marc Guéhi to Manchester City earlier in the season.
Speaking after the game, Glasner said: “Adam is an abductor injury, like when he had to leave the England camp. Let’s see, it doesn’t look so serious but we have to assess him further.
“Maxence was foot-to-foot contact and then he felt his knee, the medial ligament so let’s see but it is painful.”
Will Palace take the risk?
Even if the injuries turn out to be minor, you have to wonder whether Palace will take any chances.
With a European semi-final on the horizon, risking key players in a league game that doesn’t carry much weight for them feels unlikely.
Opportunity for West Ham
From a West Ham perspective, this can only help our chances of grabbing a win on Monday.
A slightly weakened Palace side, possibly with one eye elsewhere, might just give Nuno’s team the edge they need