West Ham United have been boosted ahead of Friday night’s trip to Leeds United with the news the hosts will be missing a key defender.
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West Ham travel to Elland Road looking to get back on track after losing 3-1 to Manchester United last time out.
Leeds were beaten by the same scoreline at Chelsea.
West Ham should be confident going into the game against a newly-promoted side, especially given the way they have played this season.
West Ham facing no ordinary newly promoted side in Bielsa’s Leeds
But Leeds are no ordinary promoted side. Marcelo Bielsa’s team can go level on points with West Ham if they win.
West Ham meanwhile will go back up to fifth in the league at the quarter-way stage with a victory of their own.
And David Moyes’s hopes of a result have been boosted ahead of the match after key Leeds defender Robin Koch was ruled out through injury after requiring knee surgery (Sky Sports).
Boost for Hammers as key Leeds defender is ruled out
Koch limped off injured nine minutes into Leeds’s clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The German struggled in the opening exchanges before going down clutching his knee.
He was unable to continue and will have surgery this week (Sky Sports).
It meant Diego Llorente was called on for his Leeds debut after nine minutes.
The former Real Sociedad man has been protected by the club’s medical and coaching staff following an injury picked up on international duty a few months ago.
That was until he was thrust into action for his Leeds debut against Chelsea.
Koch back-up lacking in game time and experience so Haller must look to take advantage
The Spaniard did not fare too badly. But he did show clear signs of rust that West Ham will surely look to take advantage of on Friday night.
Sebastien Haller looks likely to start up front with Hammers star Michail Antonio out of action.
And the £45million forward must use Llorente’s lack of game time and Premier League experience to his advantage.
Even Bisela himself has admitted he wanted to play Llorente in the Under 23s first to gain experience (Leeds Live).
But the injury to Koch gives the Argentine little choice.
And that could work out well for West Ham.
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