West Ham United have moved to clear up speculation about crucial midfield star Edson Alvarez ahead of the clash with Crystal Palace.
West Ham head to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in game week two of the new Premier League season.
The Hammers and Palace both lost their opening games 2-1.
There was surprise at Julen Lopetegui’s team selection for the Villa defeat last weekend.
Only two of West Ham’s eight summer signings started that game much to the disappointment of Hammers fans.
So all eyes will be on Lopetegui’s selection for the trip to Crystal Palace.
The stars seem to be aligning for the Hammers ahead of the game against the Eagles.
Stars aligning for Hammers at Palace?
Oliver Glasner looks set to be without his two first choice centre-backs Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi.
Palace are selling Andersen to Fulham for £30m. And a deal is expected to be struck between Newcastle and Crystal Palace for Guehi at a reported £65m plus by the weekend.
Having already sold West Ham tormentor Michael Olise, this could be a great time to face Palace for Lopetegui.
Despite all their signings, the Hammers have been missing one of their fundamental players in pre-season in the shape of Edson Alvarez.
The Mexican suffered a serious hamstring injury at Copa America amid speculation he could be sold with the likes of Man United interested.
Alvarez has remained out since and there has been claim and counter claim about when he will return to action for West Ham.
West Ham clear up speculation about Alvarez ahead of Palace
Fabrizio Romano then dropped a bombshell this week by stating Alvarez could be back for Palace ‘if all goes to plan’.
He also stated other clubs remain interested in signing El Machin before deadline day.
Top Hammers insider Sean Whetstone said a return for the Crystal Palace match would be a ‘miracle’ considering Alvarez hasn’t even been training with the West Ham squad.
Now West Ham have cleared up speculation about Alvarez ahead of Crystal Palace.
In the club’s official team news update ahead of the match, West Ham have confirmed Alvarez is the ‘only potential absentee’.
But the Hammers state the 26-year-old ‘continues to be assessed’.
“Julen Lopetegui’s only potential absentee is likely to be Edson Álvarez, who suffered a hamstring injury at the Copa América which kept the midfielder out of pre-season and the season opener against Aston Villa, so the 26-year-old will be assessed ahead of the Hammers’ first away game of the 2024/25 campaign,” West Ham state.
Lopetegui also addressed the Alvarez situation in his pre-match press conference.
He appeared to suggest he is still some way off but then rather intriguingly added: “We’ll see.”
“He has been out for a while, and he is progressing well, but let’s see,” Lopetegui said.
“Until tomorrow we’re not going to have a clear view of how our squad looks.”
Mid-September/October comeback more likely
It has been stated previously by the likes of Whetstone that Alvarez will be out until at least mid-September perhaps even October.
With Alvarez highly unlikely to be back for Crystal Palace, Lopetegui faces a big decision on how to line up in midfield.
New boy Guido Rodriguez failed to impress Jamie Redknapp in his debut against Villa.
Although West Ham’s new Argentine midfielder bit back at criticism of his performance.
It seems likely he will start again against the Eagles but Lopetegui must decide whether to put him alongside Tomas Soucek or James Ward-Prowse.
Many feel Lucas Paqueta should be played alongside Rodriguez with Mohammed Kudus ahead of them in his preferred central attacking midfield role.
Crystal Palace vs West Ham kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.
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