West Ham United have been handed yet another boost ahead of the game at Southampton on Saturday.
Southampton were already reeling from a major double injury blow with Theo Walcott and Stuart Armstrong missing for the visit of high-flying West Ham.
Now Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed another blow as striker Shane Long continues to isolate having tested positive for Covid-19.
Triple boost for West Ham as Hasenhuttl confirms another blow for Saints
Conversely David Moyes’s West Ham squad head to the coast with a clean bill of health.
And the Hammers are also bolstered by the signings of Kurt Zouma, Nikola Vlasic and Alex Kral since they were last in action before the international break.
West Ham were already seriously boosted by the absence of two of Southampton’s best players in the shape of midfielder Armstrong and Walcott.
Armstrong, Walcott and now Long out for Southampton’s clash with Hammers
And Hasenhuttl confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Long is in isolation and will miss the game having tested positive for Covid-19 whilst on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.
“We have a few players who have been travelling a lot. We will have everybody back today except (Shane) Long,” the Austrian said.
“He is in self-isolation in the hotel because of a positive Covid test but the rest will arrive today and I will have a look.”
Southampton may be without Stuart Armstrong but West Ham will still need to watch out for his namesake Adam.
Moyes will be wary of former striker target Adam Armstrong
The Hammers were heavily linked with the former Blackburn man after selling Sebastien Haller to Ajax in January.
But Moyes elected not to bring in a new striker to play back-up to Premier League player of the month Michail Antonio.
West Ham have a great record against Southampton with seven wins in the last nine Prem meetings between the two sides and just one defeat.
The Saints have blown hot and cold so far this season with a 3-1 opening day defeat to Everton and draws against Man United and Newcastle.
West Ham should be wary, though, because they did catch the eye with an 8-0 win over Newport County in the Carabao Cup.
In other news, Trevor Sinclair questions whether star had the ambition to play for West Ham.
And West Ham new boys Zouma and Vlasic pictured training for first time.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
