Who wants some much-needed, very welcome and timely good West Ham news ahead of the crunch Nottingham Forest clash?
Open the window and you can almost hear a collective cry of ‘yes please’ from West Ham fans.
The bad news tap has been gushing so far in 2024 for West Ham.
Injuries and absences. No wins in seven attempts. Out of the FA Cup to a midtable Championship side.
A poor transfer window which made the Hammers squad weaker.
Cherished technical director Tim Steidten having his recommendations ignored and now publicly flirting with the idea of leaving for Liverpool.
Division among supporters over the manager. Dropping out out of the top six shake-up.
And watching Declan Rice smash a goal in from 30 yards to compound West Ham’s misery in a 6-0 drubbing at home to Arsenal – the club’s biggest home league defeat for 61 years.
Who wants some good news ahead of Forest?
But we lured you here on the promise of a positive update. So let’s get to it.
Who wants some good West Ham news ahead of crunch Nottingham Forest clash?
Firstly Hammers News has been informed by a top source inside the club that Michail Antonio will be at the very least in the squad for the crunch game against his old club Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Barring any setbacks, Antonio is expected to complete another full week of full contact training.
And he will take his place among West Ham’s squad for the trip to the City Ground.
There is also positive news over Lucas Paqueta.
Antonio set for squad and possibly Paqueta too
West Ham fans can expect to see him pictured back in training on grass in and around his teammates this week.
David Moyes will then have a decision to make over whether he risks him against Forest.
But, like Antonio, he could well be included in the squad having watched West Ham’s 6-0 thumping at the weekend. There’s an ‘outside chance’ that could be the case.
And there could be further good news in that Moyes will be forced to act over his defence.
Many West Ham fans have been bemused by Moyes’ decision to put Nayef Aguerd straight back into his starting XI following his AFCON exit.
Moyes forced to act over Aguerd
West Ham’s defence had been the only redeeming feature of the last month or so with Konstantinos Mavropanos finding his feet and form.
But Aguerd has gone straight back into the side and the Hammers have duly shipped nine goals in two games – many of them his fault.
Moyes may now be forced to drop Aguerd and/or potentially Kurt Zouma – who has also been woeful – and reinstate Mavropanos.
The Scot may also elect to bring in experienced fan favourite Angelo Ogbonna, who rarely – if ever – lets West Ham down.
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