West Ham take on Premier League champions Man City on Saturday and they will need every one of their top players fit and firing.
The Julen Lopetegui era at West Ham is up and running after two wins on the bounce ahead of Saturday’s massive test against Manchester City.
A win is a win and the Hammers were always going to be a work in progress with a new manager, new philosophy and so many new players.
But there is no hiding the fact West Ham have ridden their luck in victories over Crystal Palace and Bournemouth in the Premier League and Carabao Cup.
Performance levels must improve quickly because there will be no let offs for West Ham when Man City come to the London Stadium on Saturday evening.
West Ham won’t be able to ride their luck against Man City
Manchester City have started the season with two wins from two and the likes if Erling Haaland is already in fine goalscoring form.
West Ham boss Lopetegui is trying to knit his impressive new squad together on the fly.
That meant sweeping changes for the cup win over Bournemouth as a host of new arrivals got their first starts.
Chief among them was Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
A £15m bargain signing from Man United, Wan-Bissaka is already justifying his reputation as the best defensive full-back in the Premier League.
Wan-Bissaka was key to Man United’s FA Cup win over Manchester City in May as he added Jeremy Doku to the list of top wingers he has pocketed in his career.
West Ham are already seeing the benefit of having a player of Wan-Bissaka’s quality in the side.
The same can be said of £40m summer signing Max Kilman too.
Three big West Ham stars seen limping ahead of Man City clash
He has arguably been West Ham’s man of the match in every game so far.
Both Kilman and Wan-Bissaka will be fundamental to West Ham’s chances of getting a result against Man City.
Especially as new boy Jean-Clair Todibo looked understandably rusty on his full debut against the Cherries.
So there were worrying scenes for those watching the game at the London Stadium on Wednesday night.
Because three big West Ham stars were seen limping after the cup win ahead of the Man City clash.
West Ham have a less than 72-hour turnaround for the game against Manchester City.
Meanwhile Pep Guardiola’s side will be going into the game after a full week of rest.
Now it looks like Lopetegui might be sweating on the fitness of some key stars for the biggest test of his Hammers tenure yet.
First new £26m winger Crysencio Summerville was seen limping as he was substituted in the second half.
Summerville would not have started against Manchester City but would be a potentially potent option off the bench for West Ham.
Hammers sweating over Kilman, Wan-Bissaka and Summerville
Most worryingly, though, both Wan-Bissaka and Kilman went down several times feeling their hamstrings.
It was most likely cramp as both received treatment and help from teammates to stretch out their hamstrings.
But both Wan-Bissaka and Kilman were seen limping as they headed down the tunnel after the game.
Usually that would not be a major concern.
With the tight turnaround, though, it might make it touch and go for the big game.
And Lopetegui may not want to push the duo too far as that presents the obvious risk of a potentially longer term injury.
Ice baths and massages will be the order of the day for Wan-Bissaka, Kilman and Summerville ahead of Man City.
Summerville’s limp appeared the worst of the three while Aaron Cresswell also pulled out of the match before kick-off with a hamstring complaint.
Lopetegui and West Ham fans will be keeping everything crossed the trio are ok and can rest up ahead of what’s likely to be the toughest game they play all season.
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