Michail Antonio has yet to resume training after a groin problem so will not be available for selection tonight. Moyes told reporters on Friday: “Antonio has not joined us yet, he is recovering, we don’t think his groin is as bad as we first thought.Will he make the game? Probably just a bit too soon to say.”
Mark Noble has resumed training but the game may come too soon for him and Moyes saying “Noble is making progress, has trained for a couple of days but he has not joined us yet but making progress, it’s his hamstring.”
Sam Byram is still suffering from a thigh strain and is still two weeks off from a return as he recovers.
Jose Fonte is recovering from a long-term ankle injury and is scheduled to return to the squad from 20th January.
Edimilson Fernandes has just undergone an operation on his ankle and it is doubtful whether he can recover before the end of the season.
Reece Oxford is back from a loan spell at Borussia Monchengladbach and is available.
On West Brom’s side
West Brom striker Salomon Rondon is struggling with a hamstring problem.
Midfielders Nacer Chadli and James Morrison are again ruled out by respective hip and Achilles problems.
The only reason to play CArroll is to put him in the shop window & pray somebody makes a bid for him but I am not holding my breath. He should only be used as a sub if we are desperate.
Strongest possible team out tonight please. Worry about Thursday come Thursday. If we don’t pick up three points tonight, we are royally in the shyte.
And please play 4-4-2 with Chic and Arnie up top Mr Moyes. Their two centre backs are as slow as ours and we need to exploit this obvious weakness by playing balls in behind them with speedy runners. DO NOT PLAY CARROLL AND TRY LUMPING IT!
If Oxford has shown up well in training and shows he wants to be at West Ham, he should be played in defensive midfield or right wing back. Zabaletta might be saved for spurs.
If anything zabaleta should play against West Brom and oxford should play against spurs at RWB.
Purely because West Brom don’t pose a threat of pace so Zaba could deal with it… whereas spurs.. they do have pace on that flank with Son.. oxford is more likely to keep up than Zaba is.