West Ham United trio Mark Noble, Michail Antonio, and Jack Wilshere all face late fitness tests before the game against Tottenham on Saturday, according to Claret and Hugh.
The club source claim on their website that the Hammers’ captain could be forced to sit on the bench at the London Stadium, despite attempts to recover during training this week.
Claret and Hugh report that Wilshere could step in for Noble should he miss the game against their London rivals, even after only completing 54 minutes of football in the past two months.
It is suggested that Antonio is unlikely to be risked for the Hammers, but still has a good chance of being named on the bench.
OPINION
Now would be the perfect time for all three players to return, with West Ham currently in the middle of a crisis in the Premier League. Manuel Pellegrini can not afford to be without some of his most reliable players after having not won a game since September and the pressure starting to rise in East London. Noble is no doubt the most experienced head in the dressing room, and without him, his side could come unstuck rather quickly against Spurs, who will be boosted by the appointment of Jose Mourinho. Antonio has been missing for months now, and his pace and determination has been missed massively in the final third, and he could be the missing link which has seen Sebastien Haller become more isolated each week for West Ham. Either way, it is critical that Pellegrini has these three to call upon on Saturday, especially after showing what he can do with a fully-fit squad at the beginning of the season.