Santo has been sweating on injury issuesplaceholder image
Santo has been sweating on injury issues | Getty Images
West Ham are said to have been handed a triple fitness boost ahead of their clash with Manchester United.
The Iron now have a fighting chance, and it’s palpable, with a new-found hope around and within this team. West Ham have momentum, and it was a good sign that they were able to respond to what could have been a momentum-stuffing collapse against Chelsea by bouncing back and beating Burnley last time out.
It feels as though West Ham were not capable of that earlier in the season, and it’s one of several reasons why many Iron fans now believe they have a chance of avoiding the Championship. Tuesday night will bring its own challenges, though, with an in-form Manchester United in town.
The Red Devils have won four straight games, and they haven’t won five on the bounce since 2006, so there is a slice of history on the line for them here. Michael Carrick has rallied the troops, and like a the London Stadium, Old Trafford now has a very different feel about it.
Carrick will want to make that last as he looks to win the job full-time, but also to strengthen Man Utd’s top four hopes, and they are now in possession of a Champions League spot, in fourth place.
It will be a big test for West Ham as they look to keep their momentum rolling, but there seems to be some good news. There have been concerns over Pablo Felipe, Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen after the win over Burnley.
Nuno Espirito Santo even admitted in his pre-match press conference: “Yeah, unfortunately [we have some injury issues]. We’re going to have some players out, but I’m not going to say who it is. It’s disappointing, but it is what it is.”
Santo did not name names, but that trio is believed to be who he is alluding to. But in good news from ExWHUemployee on The West Ham Way, it seems all three players are likely to be fit to play. The reliable Hammers source has reported that a very similar starting XI is expected for this game
That will be a big boost for the Hammers as they look to deny Man Utd that much-talked about five straight wins.
Santo on the Man Utd test
Speaking about the challenge Man utd bring, Santo said ahead of this one: “I think they’re playing very well, and they’re in a good moment. You can see that their players are confident, and we know it’s going to be tough because they have a lot of talent.
“It’s going to be totally different to the last time we played them. It’s a new game, and new things will happen. I think Manchester United have shown they have changed, and right now they are playing really well. We’ve looked at many things that they do, and Bruno Fernandes is someone we have to look at. He’s a fantastic player, and I have a lot of admiration for Bruno.”
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