West Ham United have had very little to play for in the month since Ipswich Town’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.
In fact, the best Hammers fans can really hope for, in the final two matches of a torturous season, is to avoid being labelled ‘the best of the worst’. The team finishing 17th, just above the dotted line, a wooden spoon in hand and a dunce hat on heads.
If you had told West Ham United supporters at the beginning of the campaign that they would have leapfrogged both Tottenham and Manchester United with two games to go, the London Stadium faithful would have been forgiven for digging out their passports and preparing for a trip abroad.
Instead, in a bizarre and most unexpected turn of events, West Ham, Man United and Spurs enter mid-May occupying 15th, 16th and 17th respectively.
At least United and Tottenham still have a Europa League final to look forward to, as the West Ham faithful pray for a Spurs loss in Bilbao. In South London, any remaining optimism is largely provided by the prospect of a summer overhaul.
A numb, somewhat despondent feeling with which supporters of play-off finalists Sunderland cannot reciprocate.
With very little to decide now across English football but the FA Cup winners, the Europa League champions and the identity of next year’s third top-flight newcomer, former West Ham starlet Aji Alese finds himself potentially 90 minutes away from the gilded Premier League stage.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Sunderland’s former West Ham starlet Aji Alese one game away from the Premier League
There will, of course, be a somewhat bittersweet taste to any Wembley champagne. Should Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland see off Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United next Saturday, that is.
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Alese missed both legs of that dramatic semi-final victory over Coventry City with a broken leg which has kept him out of action since January. While fellow central defender Dan Ballard wrote his name into the Black Cats history books with the decisive goal with the virtually last touch of the tie, Alese was forced to watch on helplessly from the sidelines.
Now, remarkably, a spot in Le Bris’ matchday squad for the play-off final clash with Sheffield United is not entirely out of the question.
Alese could be in contention for play-off final clash with Sheffield United
Alese – West Ham youth coach Mark Robson called him an ‘outstanding’ talent back in 2021 – has made a pretty stunning recovery from that sickening leg break.
To such an extent that he was, until recently, in contention to play a part in that two-legged Coventry clash.
“He’s worked really hard to be back,” Le Bris said. “It’s really a surprise for me, because after the injury it was clear for me that it should have been a long period to recover properly.
“But he was really positive, worked well and it’s really good for us to have Aji with us.”
The prospect of a promotion party at Wembley will only make Alese – David Moyes surprisingly let the ex-England Under 20 ace join Sunderland after only two Hammers appearances – all the more determined to return well ahead of schedule.
It was felt at one point that Aji Alese could have been the future of West Ham’s backline.
Instead, three years after leaving the London Stadium without having made a single Premier League appearance, Alese is now just one game away from making what could be a long-awaited top flight debut in the red and white stripes of Sunderland.