West Ham in big double boost for Norwich clash after Hammers boss David Moyes and Canaries manager Dean Smith provide updates.
West Ham and Norwich meet at the London Stadium on Wednesday night to play their rearranged fixture after the original match before Christmas was postponed due to Covid cases in the Canaries camp.
Both sides go into the game off the back of wins in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
West Ham comfortably beat Leeds 2-0 at home while Norwich were not too far away over in south east London as they needed a late winner to see off Charlton.
Moyes takes on Smith for the second time this season having inflicted a 4-1 defeat on his Aston Villa side shortly before his sacking.
And the Scot knows a win over the Premier League’s bottom club will put West Ham back into the top four.
Conversely Norwich know a win will draw them level on points with 17th place Watford with only goal difference keeping them in the relegation zone.
So there is a lot at stake on Wednesday night.
And West Ham have been handed a big double boost for Norwich after Moyes and Smith updates.
That’s because Moyes has suggested influential right-back Vladimir Coufal will return after a positive Covid test ruled him out against Leeds.
And Smith has confirmed Norwich’s on loan Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour will miss the West Ham game through injury.
West Ham in big double boost for Norwich after David Moyes and Dean Smith provide updates
“We hope there is a good chance he is ready,” Moyes said when asked whether Coufal would be back for Norwich (Football.London).
Scottish central midfield starlet Gilmour, who Moyes once quipped he wanted at West Ham when Chelsea were persistently being linked with Declan Rice, was due to face the Hammers but will now miss out.
“He will struggle for Wednesday I think,” Smith said during his post-match press conference (Norfolk Live).
“It looked like a high ankle sprain. A quite innocuous challenge in a small sided game (on Saturday). He was due to play (against Charlton). He has got a scan so we will find out after that.”