West Ham are facing a crucial period of their season but could be dealt a bitter blow after an injury to key player Emerson.
West Ham have it all to play for over the next few weeks in the Premier League and Europa League.
But it could all come crashing down very quickly if the Hammers slip back into the kind of form which saw them start 2024 without a single win in eight games.
That looked to be behind West Ham. But a limp 1-0 defeat in the Europa League last 16 first leg at Freiburg suggests a corner has not been fully turned just yet.
West Ham have proved they are miles away from being a competitive side when missing key players.
Emerson absolutely fundamental to West Ham
So it was a hearts in mouths moment when one of the most fundamentally important players to this Hammers team went down injured at Freiburg.
Emerson Palmieri is on course to be in the mix for the prestigious honour of being Hammer of the Year.
He is essential to this West Ham side playing well and David Moyes has absolutely no quality back-up anywhere close to Emerson’s level in reserve.
The way the Brazilian-born Italian international gets up and down the left and combines with Lucas Paqueta is crucial.
Losing Emerson for defining period would be a Hammer blow
Emerson’s back-up Aaron Cresswell has been a great servant to West Ham. But he can barely get up let alone down nowadays.
Losing Emerson for a spell at this stage could prove disastrous for the Hammers, such is his importance to the team.
Now West Ham face an anxious wait on the severity of the injury to key star Emerson at the worst possible time.
West Ham may be able to get away with playing Cresswell against Burnley this weekend.
But beyond that Moyes must have Emerson available for the second leg against Freiburg and a crunch run of games against Aston Villa, Newcastle, Spurs and Wolves which will more or less decide whether they finish in a European spot in the Premier League table.
West Ham await news of severity of Emerson injury
It is currently unclear whether Emerson felt his knee, hamstring, groin or calf.
But it did not look good as he received lengthy treatment before being withdrawn.
West Ham’s official site has confirmed he is a doubt for the game against Burnley.
And Moyes will no doubt offer further insight when he does his pre-Burnley press conference.
He and West Ham fans will all be keeping their fingers firmly crossed the assessment of Emerson’s knock brings a positive outlook.
Because my goodness this West Ham team need him.
Two players with more mobility than Cresswell, who could replace Emerson, are Nayef Aguerd and Maxwel Cornet. But they both missed the game in Freiburg due to injury.