Premier League - Preview: West Ham United vs Newcastle United
After a terrible start to the season, West Ham have found their way back with 4 matches unbeaten run. Last week’s draw away at Wolves should have given confidence to the West Ham team.
On the other hand, Newcastle showed that they have not lost any of their fighting spirit following their stoppage time equalizer. Newcastle have only picked up 5 points from their last 6 games with a solitary win.
West Ham United picked 6 points from their last 4 matches after failing to secure a single point from their first 4 games of the campaign.
Manuel da Costa is available to face Newcastle after being arrested on suspicion of sexual assault late Thursday night.
The defender was bailed pending further inquiries, after it was claimed that he committed the attack at a night club in Illford.
However, there is some good news for the West Ham United Manager as Mathew Upson is expected to make a comeback, after the English centre back missed last week’s draw at molinue due to neck strain.
The main injury concern for the East London club are the long term absentees, Jack Collison and Thomas Hitzlsperger.
Central midfielder and inspirational skipper, Scott Parker is expected to be in top form after some good showings over the past few weeks.
Injury prone winger, Kieron Dyer will be facing his former team and would be looking to make an impression and take West Ham United above Newcastle United in the table.
The most likely lineup for the home side is given below:
Green; Jacobsen, Ben-Haim, Upson, Gabbidon; Dyer, Parker, Noble; Obinna, Piquionne, Boa Morte.
Newcastle are facing some problems of their own. Since the horrific broken leg of on-loan Hatem Ben Arfa, Newcastle have failed to win even a single game.
Carroll’s early season hatrick seems a long time ago and all the hype around the striker has smoothly faded away. However, he won’t get a better chance than against a team rock bottom of the table to get some of his goal scoring touch back.
Hatem Ben Arfa will be missing with a broken leg, thanks to Manchester City’s Nigel De jong.
Manager Chris Hutton will also be without Steve Harper (broken collar bone), Dan Gosling (cruciate knee ligaments), Danny Simpson (ankle) and Steven Taylor (shoulder).
However, Hutton would be able to recall Captain Kevin Nolan to the starting line-up after he missed out on their draw with Wigan athletic.
Newcastle United’s possible starting 11 is given below:
Krul; Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique; Routledge, Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez; Nolan, Carroll.
The hammers would have happily accepted a position one place below Liverpool at the start of the season, but unfortunately that would have meant that they were lying at the bottom of the table.
This game gives them a chance to move from the bottom of the table for the first time this season. Any result would mean that they go above Liverpool, who then would go into their game against Blackburn on Sunday in 20th position.
West Ham are on their best run for 18 months of 4 matches unbeaten, but Grant needs to worry about the shyness in front of the goal with only 6 in their last 6 matches at home.
The Magpies aren't faring any better than their opponents this afternoon, sitting four places and just two points above them. Newcastle have failed to win a game since their extraordinary win in the league cup at Stamford Bridge.
Off field issues have grabbed most of the attention at St James' Park with Hatem Ben Arfa’s horrific leg injury and now their star striker, Andy Carroll has been bailed on the condition that he will patch up with skipper, Kevin Nolan.
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