Excuses look to be running out for David Moyes as West Ham gear up for huge clash with Wolves with a near fully fit squad.
West Ham got their first win in seven games with a victory over Brentford in the FA Cup at the weekend.
But West Ham all the way down in 17th place, the Premier League is the only priority right now.
A massive six-pointer against Wolverhampton Wanderers looms large on the horizon this weekend.
Ironically West Ham were only kept outside the bottom three by Aston Villa’s equaliser against Wolves last time out.
Defeat at Molineux will leave West Ham in the relegation zone whereas victory would build on the draw at Leeds and potentially lift Moyes’ side up to 13th depending on results elsewhere.
There has been claim and counter claim over what Moyes needs to do to survive the axe at West Ham in recent weeks. And a host of managers have been linked as the Scot’s potential replacement.
The latest of those being ex Burnley boss Sean Dyche – who remains out of work – with suggestions defeat to Wolves could see that change made.
Moyes has not helped himself in many ways this season. He neglected to sign two much-needed young, modern full-backs in the summer and appears to have made some very poor signings among his £170m spend.
But the Hammers boss has had to juggle another European campaign which has both exacerbated and masked West Ham’s poor Premier League form.
On top of that West Ham have suffered a host of injuries this term with the boss rarely having the chance to put out his best XI and give them time to gel.
Things are serious now, though. The club is clearly going to be in a season-long relegation battle given the gap to midtable is already a massive 10 points.
And now the excuses are running out for Moyes as West Ham gear up for huge clash with Wolves with a near fully fit squad.
Moyes has repeatedly pleaded for patience while he gets his best XI together.
And West Ham could head to Molinuex with a near fully fit squad bar Maxwel Cornet.
Kurt Zouma is said to be back in training and nearing availability – possibly for the game at Wolves.
Key summer signing Nayef Aguerd is back fit and starting while a quartet of players who missed the Brentford game – Gianluca Scamacca, Vladimir Coufal, Alphonse Areola and Manuel Lanzini – should all be available for the weekend’s match.
Yes having Cornet would be a big boost for the Hammers as they could do with the Ivory Coast winger’s pace and versatility.
But having all but one player available at this stage of the season means Moyes has nowhere to hide.
West Ham simply must start producing results to pull away from danger.