West Ham United have been hit with a potentially massive injury blow ahead of the visit of Manchester United on Sunday.
David Moyes welcomes his old club to the London Stadium with both West Ham and Man United unbeaten in the Premier League so far.
Man United warmed up for the trip to east London with a 2-1 loss in the Champions League in midweek.
West Ham entertain Man United without suspended Michail Antonio and now there’s more bad news
West Ham meanwhile produced a perfect, professional performance to beat Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 in their own back yard in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Hammers were already missing key man Michail Antonio for the Man United game after his sending off against Southampton last weekend.
And now Moyes has revealed in his pre-match press briefing that Said Benrahma has picked up a knock and could miss the match too.
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Moyes reveals major potential injury blow after Said Benrahma picked up knock in Europa action
“In terms of team news, Said Benrahma got a knock on his knee when he came on against Dinamo Zagreb,” Moyes told the press (whufc.com).
“But apart from that the squad are mostly fully available.”
It is a big blow for West Ham, particularly after Benrahma’s impressive start to the new season.
Without both Antonio and Benrahma, the Hammers face a tough ask to beat Man United.
And it means Moyes may have to think long and hard about where he plays £33 million new boy Nikola Vlasic.
Benrahma absence makes it doubly difficult for West Ham’s plan of attack
The Croat was expected to deputise up front for Antonio.
But he may be needed to cover for Benrahma with either Jarrod Bowen or Andriy Yarmolenko up top instead.
Another option would be for Manuel Lanzini to replace Benrahma – as he did in Zagreb – with Vlasic playing as a forward or false nine.
West Ham know a win over Man United would see them leapfrog the visitors in the fledgling Premier League table.
And depending on results elsewhere that could put West Ham back at the summit, a pleasure the fans enjoyed briefly two games in.
In other news, Solskjaer delivers major update on Lingard’s future beyond January ahead of West Ham return.
And Rice’s brother pictured in crowd with West Ham fans as famous family watch Vlasic.