At its worst, West Ham’s season almost turned into a nightmare relegation battle – had Lopetegui not been replaced then most fans agree that the [Hammers](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-v-newcastle-three-clean-sheets-surprising-prediction/) would be slugging it out with Leicester City for that third relegation spot. Potter cannot take all of the credit but the regime change has been the turning point.
The rare report of _just two squad players on the long-term injured_ list for the Newcastle United visit on Monday night shows how far West Ham have come down the road of rehabilitation and recuperation. Potter reported Niclas Fullkrug is now back in full training with squad, the Hammers’ coach reporting _“It’s still early in terms of his involvement but it’s positive signs for us that he’s training with the team and now it’s a case of building him up.”_
The sole upside of an early FA Cup competition exit now shows, as added recuperation and recovery time means just two long-term absentees from the full squad now – Michail Antonio who is aiming for a return before the end of the season and Crysencio Summerville – who showed form his own instagram post that he’s training alone, running on grass and getting closer to a full re-integration with the main training sessions probably after the international break.
The welcome news that Vladimir Coufal and Lucas Paquetá have trained this week means Potter has an ‘almost’ complete squad to choose from and after the Newcastle and Everton games, the further two weeks before the Hammers face relegation threatened Wolves on the 1st of April may well out Fullkrug and Summerville back in contention.
The prospect of West Ham’s two closest Premier League rivals both losing this weekend means the Hammers could climb two places if, as tipped by Paul Merson amongst others, the Irons can beat the Magpies who have their Wembley final in just six days time.
Manchester United, one place above West Ham in 14th, will surely lose to Arsenal tomorrow and 13th placed Tottenham entertain in-form Bournemouth on Sunday. All three are locked together in the Premier League on 33 points so a win for West Ham would advance them above both.
Call me a super-optimist but West Ham could head to Everton next weekend in 13th spot. Which, after the dark December and January days, would be very welcome indeed.