da leao： After the international break, West Ham face a monumental clash against relegation rivals Southampton at the London Stadium.
da betano casino： The Hammers are coming off the back of the 3-0 home defeat against Burnley and of course the ugly scenes that marred that match are still fresh in the mind of both fans and players alike.
Irons fans might have fancied their chances of beating the Saints if they were still managed by Mauricio Pellegrino but Mark Hughes is the new man in the hotseat at St Mary’s and he got off to a flying start by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win against Wigan.
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The Welshman has a point to prove after his sacking by Stoke and will be looking for a similar result in his first Premier League match in charge of the Saints, to land a major blow in the relegation dogfight.
Unfortunately for David Moyes, he will not have a full compliment of players to choose from. Winston Reid, Pedro Obiang and Andy Carroll are among the absentees and with the help of Premier Injuries, we’ve taken a look at their current situations…
When was Collins injured?: He picked up a knock in the aforementioned defeat against Burnley but given that his season has been interrupted by injuries, Moyes will be keen to ensure that the Welshman is not out for an extended period. He also limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury in the Hammers’ 3-1 friendly win over Dagenham and Redbridge on Wednesday night.
Has he been missed?: The absence of Winston Reid and the sale of Jose Fonte to China has catapulted Collins into a critical role in the survival fight. He has never been the quickest but despite his aging legs, his experience and knowhow will be vital in helping the squad deal with the pressure of a relegation battle. He is one that Moyes won’t want to have to do without.
When was Byram injured?: He picked up an ankle injury in the thrashing against Swansea, which could well keep him out for the rest of the season.
What the manager said: On March 9, Moyes said: “It doesn’t look great for Sam [who could miss the rest of the season].”
Has he been missed?: Byram has never been a regular starter but he is a player with great potential who was meant to spend this season learning from Pablo Zabaleta with a view to taking his spot as the season wears on. This injury has disrupted those plans, quite clearly. Also, Zabaleta was being deployed as a holding midfielder by Moyes but now the Scotsman has been deprived of Byram at right-back, those plans could get shelved.
When was Reid injured?: Like Byram, he was also injured during the humiliation at hands of a relegation rival at the Liberty Stadium.
What the manager said: On March 9, Moyes said: “Winston will be out for the rest of the season.”
Has he been missed?: His leadership was sorely missed against Burnley, when the fans began to turn against the team and the Clarets smashed in two more goals. He is still the best centre-half on the books at the club and it would be hard to see a combination of him and Angelo Ogbonna conceding so many goals that the Irons go down. His absence is a major blow for Moyes.
When was Obiang injured?: He was forced off in the first half of West Ham’s FA Cup embarrassment at the hands of Wigan and it was later confirmed that he had suffered knee ligament damage.
Potential return date: 02/07/18
What the manager said: On February 6, Moyes said: “We are confident that he will return fit and strong in time for pre-season.”
Has he been missed?: Obiang adds energy and endeavour to the Hammers midfield and his absence is another big loss to Moyes. He can chip in with the odd goal as well and there is no doubt that he would have featured heavily in the relegation battle if he was fully fit.
When was Carroll injured?: ‘When was Carroll not injured?’ would be the cynical reply in reference to a player who has seen his career decimated by various ailments. His latest issue is a broken foot sustained in a January match against West Bromwich Albion, in which he scored two goals.
Potential return date: 21/04/2018
Has he been missed?: It is easy to forget that Carroll’s injury came at a time when unlikely interest from Chelsea was circling and Moyes was reportedly considering letting the former Newcastle man go in exchange for £20m and a loan deal for Michy Batshuayi, who is now banging in the goals for Borussia Dortmund.
However, Carroll has always been vital to West Ham’s hopes which is what makes it such a shame that he can’t stay fit. Moyes will want him back before the season is out, but if Chicharito can maintain his form then the blow will be softened.