Having ended an eight-match Premier League drought last weekend, one suspects West Ham United skipper Jarrod Bowen will be licking his lips in anticipation as he looks to sink his teeth into Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
This was only the eighth time in his Hammers career that the captain had failed to score in eight straight top-flight matches.
Thanks in part to some excellent work in the build up from Callum Wilson, though, Jarrod Bowen ensured that barren run would not drag over into the festive period. Bowen finished with ‘unbelievable’ precision to put West Ham United ahead against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend.
His first Premier League strike since the 1-1 draw at Everton in October. Nuno Espirito Santo’s debut match in the dugout.
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Now, Bowen has a habit of following up a barren spell with a glut of goals.
News that Aston Villa could be without first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and centre-back Pau Torres should have the skipper champing at the bit as West Ham look to secure a first win against the title dark horses since Pablo Fornals struck back in August 2022.
Unai Emery says Pau Torres and Emi Martinez could miss West Ham United v Aston Villa
Aston Villa were without both Martinez and Torres during the narrow 2-1 Europa League victory away to Swiss outfit FC Basel on Thursday.
With Tyrone Mings also absent, Emery is likely to start Ezri Konsa alongside the experienced but seldom-seen Victor Lindelof ahead of back-up glovesman Marco Bizot.
“They are injured,” Emery said at full-time. “Now, we have Konsa and Lindelof, both centre-backs, and [midfielder] Lamare Bogarde can play there. His versatility is fantastic. We will need players to feel comfortable, when we have players injured like [Torres] at left centre-back.
“[Martinez] has a problem in his back. He is not feeling 100 per cent well. [Friday] and Saturday, we will check him again. Hopefully, he is getting better for Sunday.”
Aston Villa have won nine of their last ten Premier League matches.
Martinez has started all but one of those. Pau Torres has been an ever-present, meanwhile, during an outstanding run of results which has catapulted the Midlanders into the heart of a potential title battle.
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Nuno welcomes Ollie Scarles back as he prepares to lose Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf
While West Ham are still stuck in the relegation zone despite losing one of their last six, Aston Villa could go level on points at the top.
Albeit only if Manchester City slip up at Crystal Palace – possible, given that Pep Guardiola has had issues against the Eagles before – but also if Arsenal lose at home to Wolves. As shocks go, this would be surely the biggest in modern Premier League history.
West Ham welcomed Crysencio Summerville back from injury last time out, and he is expected to start again. Konstantinos Mavropanos is also back to full fitness. Ollie Scarles is training as well. A timely return, given that El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be on AFCON duty from next week onwards.
“Of course [I will be watching AFCON], especially the matches our players will be involved in,” adds Nuno, the Sao Tome-born coach looking forward to seeing Wan-Bissaka represent DR Congo and Diouf start for Senegal.
“But normally, I see all the competition. The African Cup of Nations is always very enjoyable because the games are open and you can see good actions.
“I don’t go there to work, just to enjoy the football.”
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