West Ham United boss David Moyes has sprung something of a surprise fitness boost ahead of the trip to Newcastle United.
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West Ham were expected to be without Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell for the crunch game.
Cresswell was the latest key Hammer to pick up a knock when he went off with a hamstring strain in the win over Leicester.
Moyes springs surprise Cresswell fitness boost ahead of Newcastle
The injury was not deemed too serious. But many sites – including reliable insiders Claret and Hugh – claimed it was enough to keep Cresswell out for two-three weeks.
But speaking in his pre-Newcastle press conference, Moyes has confirmed Cresswell could actually be in contention to play.
The Scot confirmed Rice and Antonio remain out for the foreseeable future.
He will however make a decision on Cresswell today, which suggests he will be fine for the Chelsea match even if he doesn’t make the Newcastle game.
‘We hope he’ll be ok… I’ll decide today’
“Aaron Cresswell picked up a bit of an injury on Sunday and we need to check him out and like every other club we’re getting bumps and bruises,” Moyes told whufc.com.
“We’ll make a decision on Aaron today. He’s a doubt but we hope he’ll be ok.
“Since we’ve come back from international duty, injuries have been quite heavy throughout the league.”
West Ham will go third if they beat Newcastle.
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And it would pile the pressure on Leicester who face an in-form West Brom next Thursday night.
Chelsea too may start to feel the strain with games piling up and a huge Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid set to take place just a few days after their European race six-pointer against the Hammers next weekend.
Newcastle will be no pushovers, though.
The Magpies were impressive in the 2-1 win over Burnley last time out. And Steve Bruce has the likes of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin back fit.
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