Santo has confirmed a West Ham boostplaceholder image
Santo has confirmed a West Ham boost | Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo has provided a West Ham fitness update ahead of this weekend’s clash with Manchester City.
It gets no easier for the Iron this weekend as they prepare to face a sizzling Manchester City side at the Etihad Stadium. City are two points behind leaders Arsenal after six straight wins across all competitions.
Given City’s electric form, West Ham will need all the help they can get at the Etihad, and in the wake of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mallick Diouf heading off to the African Cup of Nations, there is some good news in Niclas Fullkrug returning to contention after another frustrating spell out with injury.
“There are two points [on the absence of Diouf and Wan-Bissaka],” West Ham boss Nuno Esprito Santo began. “I’m happy for them, because I think it’s important to go and represent your national teams. But, as a squad, we are going to miss them.
“We have to deal with the situation, though. AFCON is something that’s been in the schedule, so it’s up to us to find solutions. We have to find players who can come into those positions, and Kyle and Ollie (Scarles) (Walker-Peters) are the natural options. Niclas has returned. He returned today to part of the session, which is positive.”
Santo added on the striker: “I can only speak about things since after I arrived. Niclas started both of the first two games and what is delaying him is small injuries that keep putting him out.
“Any player that does not have the continuity of games cannot reach their best. We have this situation when players play, come out, stay, and it is difficult. All the players who are in the building are options as long as they are fit, training well and working well.”
Santo on City challenge
Well aware of the difficulty of this test, Santo, who will surely be planning to play a low block in this one, said: “They are very good, very talented and with a very good manager and it will be very tough. It’s up to us to compete against them and we must play very well.
“We have to prepare the team with the details that we consider important. It’s about how we compete against all of the Manchester City players, rather than individuals. We cannot hope things will happen. We can’t work on ‘ifs’. We work on reality and our reality is Saturday, Man City, and it’s a tough one.”
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