Newcastle are in trouble as they deal with an injury crisis while West Ham have received a crucial double boost ahead of the crunch clash.
Newcastle are cursing their luck as they deal with an injury crisis ahead of a big Premier League meeting with West Ham.
There’s plenty to play for as the Hammers head to St James’s Park to face Eddie Howe’s patched up Magpies.
It is being billed as a six-pointer in the race for the European places. And West Ham have the chance to put a seven-point gap between themselves and the Geordies.
Newcastle will definitely be without six big players for the game while three more are serious doubts.
Double trouble for injury-hit Newcastle
On the flip side David Moyes is without key midfielder Edson Alvarez due to suspension.
But besides that the West Ham manager has stated he has ‘pretty much’ a fully ft squad.
The Scot did state, however, that Nayef Aguerd and Lucas Paqueta are doubts.
Aguerd is not a starter for West Ham right now after his woefully inconsistent displays.
But Newcastle would have been licking their lips at the prospect of talisman Paqueta missing the match.
West Ham also had big concerns over another of their holy trinity – Mohammed Kudus.
Hammers get major Kudus and Paqueta boost
Kudus withdrew from the Ghana squad over the international break with a shoulder injury and was rated fifty-fifty for Newcastle.
West Ham’s star boy was omitted from the club’s official preview for the game but Hammers News suggested no news could be good news on that front.
And so it has proved it seems.
Newcastle look in trouble as West Ham get a crucial double boost ahead of the crunch clash.
Because West Ham’s media team have already given the game away that Paqueta and Kudus will be available to face the Magpies.
On Thursday night West Ham showed Paqueta in training after returning from Brazil duty.
And in a picture gallery from training on the eve of Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off, that man Kudus has also been pictured in action.
Pictures 18 and 19 in the gallery on the club’s official site show Kudus fit and raring to go.
This is obviously absolutely brilliant news for Moyes which could be decisive in such an important game.
If West Ham are going to qualify for Europe for a fourth successive season then having Paqueta, Kudus and Jarrod Bowen will need to be available for the vast majority of the run-in.
West Ham drew 2-2 with Newcastle in the reverse fixture – Kudus scoring a fantastic last gasp equaliser at the London Stadium.