Graham Potter will be without the full-back this weekend.placeholder image
Graham Potter will be without the full-back this weekend. | Getty Images
The Hammers defender will not make a homecoming at Crystal Palace this weekend.
West Ham will be without full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, in a fresh blow confirmed by Graham Potter on Thursday afternoon.
The under-pressure Hammers manager is looking for a second win of the season at Selhurst Park. West Ham sit 18th in the Premier League table and have been on the receiving end of thrashings at the hands of Sunderland, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
There remain questions over the future of Potter at the London Stadium and the former Brighton and Chelsea manager will be hoping that a positive result against Crystal Palace will buy him more time. Oliver Glasner’s side welcome West Ham having not lost any of their eight fixtures across all competitions this term.
West Ham handed blow ahead of Crystal Palace
West Ham will be without Wan-Bissaka with the defender nursing a stomach problem. In his pre-match press conference, Potter said that the player would return to ‘light training’ over the weekend, pointing to not too serious a lay-off. The full-back could return against Everton later this month.
Wan-Bissaka was a mainstay in the starting XI last season and one of few bright sparks for the club. When asked about the player’s development last season, Potter said: "He's been really impressive. As I've said before, I can't say this categorically because I don't know Aaron's career, but I can't imagine he's played as well [before] as he has for us at this point in his career.
"He looks like he's enjoying his football. He gives a lot to the team, really pleased with what he's giving to the team offensively and defensively. As I said, it looks like he's enjoying his football. And that's not easy because the results we've had haven't been that enjoyable. But nevertheless, his individual performances have been strong."
Aaron Wan-Bissaka to miss Selhurst Park homecoming
Wan-Bissaka started the first two fixtures of the campaign but was dropped to the bench against Nottingham Forest with summer signing Kyle Walker-Peters preferred. He was not in the matchday squad against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Hammers paid £15 million to sign the defender from Manchester United last summer. Wan-Bissaka is a product of the Crystal Palace academy and made 46 appearances for the Eagles first team.
Potter also had praise for this weekend’s opponents. Speaking about Crystal Palace ahead of the visit to south London, he said: “They have lots of good players that clearly know what they are doing in and out of possession. They are solid in attack and defence but nobody is perfect, so we have to focus on making our game a problem for them as well."
In other news, West Ham could turn to familiar face as Graham Potter sack timeline claim made.
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