Graham Potter has shared positive team news ahead of West Ham’s London derby against Brentford this Saturday.
Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez and Jean-Clair Todibo were all seen training with the squad earlier this week after being out injured, and Potter has now revealed they should all be available to make the squad this weekend.
“We’ve had some positive news in that Paqueta and Alvarez have trained and should be available. Todibo should make the squad at least,” said Potter in his press conference.
The returning James Ward-Prowse and January signing Evan Ferguson are also set to make the squad, giving the Hammers far more options in their starting lineup.
Potter spoke highly of the pair ahead of the game: “[Ferguson’s] trained well. He hasn’t played loads of football recently, so we have to be careful with that.
“He’s shown his quality, and is ready to help the team, and we feel he’ll just get better and better.
“[Ward-Prowse’s] come in and done well. He’s an experienced player, and I’ve been really impressed with him,” Potter added.
This news will be music to the ears of West Ham fans, with the team suffering some major injury blows in recent months.
One player West Ham were hoping would be back in action by now is Crysencio Summerville, but the Dutch winger is set to be out for the next two months, due to an ongoing hamstring problem.
Positive injury news at the perfect time
Against a team that has only won two away games all season, this positive news will certainly give West Ham fans some hope they can pick up a result against Brentford on Saturday.
Graham Potter revealed there was a ‘freshness’ amongst the squad with a weekend off without football. This feels like it was the perfect time for the squad to both get some players back fit and to have almost a couple of weeks to work closely with Potter.
The prospect of both a bigger squad and a well-rested side in a team that’s performed well since Potter’s arrival is exciting and will breed optimism amongst Hammers fans for this weekend’s game, but that’s not to say the Hammers shouldn’t be wary of the threat the Bees pose.
Deadly duo Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo are fit to face the Hammers, and the pair have 25 league goals between them this season.
Despite Brentford’s poor away record this season, they do come into the game having improved results on their travels of late, winning their last two away outings against Southampton and Crystal Palace.
It’s an intriguing matchup at the London Stadium this Saturday, and West Ham fans will be hopeful that Potter’s improved squad selection will give the Hammers a good chance of securing an all-important victory ahead of a difficult visit to Arsenal next time out.
