Of the many, many issues Nuno Espirito Santo inherited when he replaced Graham Potter as West Ham United’s head coach, one thing he has not really had to contend with is injuries.
Nuno believes that Niclas Fullkrug’s failings were down to his fitness issues, while Konstantinos Mavropanos, Lucas Paqueta and Jean-Clair Todibo have missed a couple of games recently due to knocks and strains of their own.
For the most part though – and touch wood – West Ham United cannot put their dismal campaign down to the loss of multiple key players.
What is your FAVOURITE West Ham FA Cup memory?
Di Canio v Barthez, perhaps?
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have not been quite so fortunate on that front.
According to talkSPORT, Nathan Ake rejected a move to West Ham ahead of the January transfer window and Guardiola will be glad he did. Because, since then, City have lost both Josko Gvardiol to a broken shin and Ruben Dias for at least a month. John Stones is also stuck on the sidelines.
Ake, then, will be more important than ever as an injury-hit City look to keep the pace at the top of the table.
Pep Guardiola will not let Nathan Ake leave Manchester City after West Ham United approach
Speaking ahead of Man City’s 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday night – their third game in a row without victory – Guardiola pretty much drew a line under those Ake departure claims.
So if West Ham had any thoughts about potentially renewing their interest and trying to convince the Dutchman to make the switch to East London, well they are barking up the wrong tree, clearly.
“Dias, hamstring’ [will miss] four to six weeks. Stones, no idea. Not ready for the next games. Ake fine. Gvardiol, out for a long time,” Guardiola said.
The Man City boss was forced to start Ake at left-back against Brighton. Abdulkodir Khusanov made a rare appearance at centre-half alongside 20-year-old Max Alleyne. The youngster had his loan spell at Watford cut short this week due to City’s defensive injury crisis.
Of course, most West Ham fans would still give an arm and a leg for a backline of Ake, Khusanov and Alleyne, considering that no team in the Premier League has conceded more goals this season than theirs.
“You would like to have 35 players in the squad,” Guardiola added, indicating that there will be no January departures.
“That is not sustainable for the team, and financially. Some decisions the club has made, some decisions [are because] the club needs to sell because always we have to make financially [focused decisions]. But I’m really pleased with the squad we have.
“This is what it is. We wish Josko and Ruben will come back well, and John as well, and we survive this period. I’m so positive and confident we will do it.”
FILL IN THE GAPS! Who else belongs among West Ham’s worst modern-day signings? 💸
Fullkrug up top? Kilman? What about Kalvin Phillips?
Roggerio Nyakossi joins Charlie Cresswell on West Ham wishlist
The most frustrating aspect of West Ham’s 2-1 home defeat by Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night – Morgan Gibbs-White scored an 89th minute penalty after Alphonse Areola collided with the England international in the box – is that they really didn’t deserve it.
It is no coincidence that, without Max Kilman and after Todibo was passed fit to start alongside Mavropanos, the Hammers produced their best defensive performance in weeks.
West Ham remain hopeful of signing Charlie Cresswell from Toulouse, and he would at least provide the sort of physical presence so often missing from Nuno’s backline.
According to The Sun, another name in the frame is Roggerio Nyakossi, the OH Leuven youngster and Switzerland’s Under-21 captain.
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