The intrigue surrounding the West Ham United squad available for tonight’s crunch game at Burnley is palpable.
West Ham insider flip flops over £40m man’s future
There have been a number of rumours surrounding the potential availability – and unavailability – of certain players.
Talk has been rife that skipper Mark Noble will miss the game with the calf injury picked up against Chelsea.
Social media boycott adds rare sense of intrigue over West Ham team news ahead of Burnley
And comments from David Moyes in his pre-match press conference sparked reports that Declan Rice and/or Michail Antonio might be shock inclusions in the West Ham squad.
Antonio has been pictured in training with West Ham as has Jesse Lingard – another player The Sun had incorrectly reported was an injury doubt after Chelsea.
Neither Noble or Rice were in any of the pictures.
It has to be said the social media boycott has only added to the sense of mystery and intrigue.
Usually West Ham fans would hound insiders like ExWHUemployee on Twitter for updates and clarification on team news.
Silence leaves fans eagerly anticipating team sheets as rumours abound over Noble, Rice and Antonio
But Ex and others have joined in the social media boycott in solidarity with accounts across football.
Usually West Ham’s media team would post pre-game pictures from training and the like too.
That has been missing due to the boycott leaving West Ham fans facing the rare – but somewhat exciting – prospect of having to wait until an hour before kick-off to find out the team.
Noble has been interviewed in a feature posted on West Ham’s official website ahead of the match.
The skipper praises Burnley and insists West Ham must get a result at Turf Moor to stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot.
Moyes could make as many as four changes?
But there is no hint in the interview as to whether Noble will be fit for the game.
Victory for West Ham would put them back in fifth place above Spurs and just three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Moyes looks set to make three or four changes to the side which lost 1-0 to Chelsea last time out.
And depending on who he has available, Said Benrahma may well get a rare start.