West Ham United look set to receive a major boost ahead of their tussle with Manchester United on Saturday.
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West Ham are fifth in the Premier League table and have won three games on the trot going into the match against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Man United have been in decent form themselves, winning their last three.
A big part of Man United’s recent success has been veteran striker Edinson Cavani.
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The Uruguayan has been in fine form.
But West Ham look set for a big boost after reports claimed Cavani will miss the game at the London Stadium as he is set to be hit with a three-game ban.
Cavani has apologised after using the word ‘negrito’ in an Instagram comment.
But Manchester United’s new signing now looks set to miss the crunch game at West Ham with a ban looming according to the likes of The Sun.
Boost for West Ham as Cavani faces three-game ban
“Cavani seems unlikely to avoid the prospect of action, which leaves the striker facing an automatic three-game ban if found guilty,” The Sun reports.
“New regulations, brought in by the FA in August, distinguish between language used on and off the pitch, including on social media.
“The rules, sent out to all clubs and players – via the PFA – state: “Where an offence is in writing only or via any communication device the absolute minimum match-based sanction in such cases will be three games.”
West Ham boss David Moyes will also be boosted by the fact the game comes in the middle of a crucial Champions League sandwich for the Old Trafford side.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men face PSG in a huge game tonight. Should they lose to the French champions and RB Leipzig beat Istanbul Basaksehir, then Man United, PSG and Leipzig will all be tied on nine points going into the final group game.
And that is in Germany next Tuesday giving Solskjaer all kinds of headaches over selection for the West Ham game.
Moyes looks set to have a near fully fit squad and Andriy Yarmolenko back in the fold after he was forced to self-isolate for two weeks due to a positive Covid-19 test.
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Moyes’s big decision will be over who starts up front and whether Said Benrahma comes into the side in place or either Arthur Masuaku or Pablo Fornals.
Michail Antonio returned in the win over Villa but looked extremely rusty and was replaced by Sebastien Haller at half-time.
The Ivorian forward put in a decent effort but was starved of any real chances with Villa on the front foot for most of the second half.
A win for West Ham could lift them – temporarily at least – up to third place in the table with nearly a third of the season gone.
Lose and they will be leapfrogged by Man United.
A draw could also move West Ham up a place to fourth, above Leicester on goal difference.
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