By Conor Hogan
**West Ham face Burnley in an all-important encounter at Turf Moor tomorrow afternoon at 3pm.**
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side simply must beat the Clarets if they are to remain in contention for Premier League safety this campaign. The Irons are currently six points away from 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, and a win could put them within touching distance of Sean Dyche’s side.
The Hammers are without defender Jean-Clair Todibo after the Frenchman’s dismissal against Chelsea last Saturday. His compatriot Axel Disasi could make his first start for the Irons after signing on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day. However, supporters should expect Max Kilman to start despite his poor form this campaign. The rest of the squad is expected to be available for the game.
Burnley, managed by former Hammer of the Year Scott Parker, are winless in 15 Premier League games, with their last victory coming against Wolves at Molineux in October. Despite that, they have picked up points in three of their last four games against Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Last weekend, they lost 3–0 to Sunderland, whom the Hammers recently beat at London Stadium.
The reverse fixture this season ended in a 3–2 victory for the Irons in East London, with Callum Wilson, Tomáš Souček and Kyle Walker-Peters grabbing the goals for Nuno’s side. West Ham academy graduate Josh Cullen scored a late consolation goal for Parker’s side in that game. The Irishman will miss Saturday’s clash and the rest of the season after tearing his cruciate ligament in December.
West Ham new boys Taty Castellanos and Pablo are still looking for their first league goals in claret and blue, but their work rate and link-up play have impressed since their arrivals. Adama Traoré is expected to start from the bench again tomorrow, but should come on at some stage, as he did at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
James Ward-Prowse recently signed on loan for Burnley from West Ham and is ineligible to play tomorrow – however, if he were to feature, he would probably score a free-kick against the Hammers.
**Predicted XI:** Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf, Souček, Fernandes, Bowen, Summerville, Pablo, Castellanos.
Saturday’s game is one of the biggest of the season and could define Nuno’s tenure at West Ham. The Irons simply must win to keep themselves afloat, and I think they will. COYI!