West Ham travel to face Newcastle this weekend for a six-pointer in the race for the Premier League’s European places.
Newcastle welcome West Ham to St James’s Park in what is the first game of the Premier League weekend after the international break.
Seventh placed West Ham go into the game four points and three places above Newcastle.
West Ham’s position will be good enough for a fourth consecutive European qualification.
That’s after Liverpool won the Carabao Cup.
So Newcastle will be determined to try and close that gap on the Hammers. Especially as the Magpies know they have a game in hand.
The Euro spots could go down as far as eighth or ninth. That will depend on whether the Premier League gets the extra Champions League spot and who wins the FA Cup, Europa League and Conference League.
Premier League Euro spots could go down to eighth or ninth
West Ham can still qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
The Hammers have a pretty dismal record against Newcastle in the last five years. West Ham have won just once in the last nine Premier League meetings since 2019. The Irons have lost four of those clashes.
A win for West Ham would put a sizeable gap between the two clubs for the run-in.
And David Moyes may have been given a helping hand ahead of the game.
Because Newcastle have been hit by genuine injury crisis for the crunch Euro place six-pointer with West Ham.
Newcastle’s injury crisis for West Ham clash
Eddie Howe is facing being without EIGHT absolutely key Newcastle stars for the visit of the Hammers.
Five of those are definitely out of the West Ham game according to Premier Injuries.
Number one goalkeeper Nick Pope is out until the end of April.
Top defender Sven Botman needs surgery on an ACL knee injury and is out until next year.
Midfield ace Joelinton is out for the rest of Newcastle’s season after surgery on a thigh injury.
Fellow midfielder Sandro Tonali is suspended until next season.
And West Ham bogeyman Callum Wilson is out until May after requiring surgery on a pectoral muscle injury.
A further three key Newcastle starters are doubts for West Ham too.
Howe says Kieran Trippier should be back for West Ham but admitted “that’s not absolutely guaranteed.”
Summer Hammers target Harvey Barnes was not in Newcastle’s squad for their last game due to a thigh injury.
And Howe said: “We hope he will be back for West Ham.”
Tino Livramento is also a doubt with an ankle injury. Although Howe is confident of having him back for the Hammers.
West Ham drew the reverse fixture 2-2 earlier this season.
The game kicks off at 12.30pm on Saturday and will be live on TNT Sports.