West Ham United travel to St James’ Park on Saturday to take on Newcastle for our first Premier League game after the international break.
The Premier League clash with Newcastle will be a vital one for West Ham as we look to assert ourselves in the race for the top seven.
The two-week international break is such a drag isn’t it! However, most of the Hammers players currently away with their respective nations have enjoyed a successful week or so, with Lucas Paqueta in particular drawing praise.
West Ham boss David Moyes will be praying that all of the eight players currently on international duty return to Rush Green in full health.
We have some huge games on the horizon, starting with Newcastle away in six day’s time. We cannot afford to lose this one, after drawing our last two league outings.
And now Moyes finds himself in a really highly pressurised situation…
Pressure now firmly on David Moyes ahead of Newcastle vs West Ham
The Hammers are currently sitting three places and four points ahead of the Toon in the table, although we’ve played one game more than them.
So avoiding defeat on Tyneside will be crucial to our hopes of finishing inside the top seven of the Premier League table this season.
According to Premier Injuries, Newcastle could be without as many as eight players for the Hammers clash next weekend.
Callum Wilson, Joelinton, Sven Botman and Nick Pope will all definitely miss the game through injury whilst Sandro Tonali is obviously suspended.
Meanwhile, three players are 50/50 for the West Ham game – Kieran Trippier, Harvey Barnes and Valentino Livramento.
With Newcastle missing so many players ahead of the West Ham match – important ones as well – the pressure is firmly on Moyes to take his side to St James’ Park, take the game to the hosts and get a much-needed win.
Touch wood, the Scot will have a full selection of players to choose from. There are no excuses for Moyes, the Magpies have proven to be extremely vulnerable this season.
I really think West Ham should take the game to Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday. They are there for the taking.
However, if we sit back and invite pressure on to ourselves all game, there will most likely be only one outcome unfortunately.
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