West Ham face Chelsea in the Premier League tomorrow lunchtime and Julen Lopetegui is sweating on the availability of two stars.
After Millwall and Spurs, Chelsea have traditionally been one of West Ham’s biggest rivals down the years – on and off the pitch.
So when the Blues come to the London Stadium on Saturday it gives Julen Lopetegui the perfect opportunity to win over any of his West Ham doubters.
Like Chelsea, the Hammers have had an indifferent start under their new boss.
Performances have been bitty and both West Ham and the Blues have looked vulnerable at the back.
West Ham have won one of their four Premier League games under Lopetegui so far.
But they have faced Villa and Man City at home.
Supporters will want to see Lopetegui set West Ham up to go at Chelsea.
After all that is one of the big reasons they called for change from David Moyes.
What Lopetegui told journalist about Fullkrug facing Chelsea
Ahead of the game, though, the Hammers have some issues.
Five big things were spotted in West Ham training ahead of the clash.
Hammers News reported that Chelsea would be buzzing at a crushing double West Ham blow.
There are major doubts over striker Niclas Fullkrug – who was linked with Chelsea in the summer – and Emerson Palmieri.
Fullkrug has an Achilles tendon and calf issue which kept him out of last weekend’s draw with Fulham.
Emerson went off in that game with a bang on the knee.
Neither had trained with the team as of Wednesday. So the chances of them facing Enzo Maresca’s side look slim.
But there may be some good news.
Because here’s what Lopetegui told a journalist about Fullkrug facing Chelsea after cameras stopped rolling.
Premier League press conferences allow broadcasters to film the first section of questions and answers with respective managers.
The cameras must then be turned off for newspaper journalists to ask their own questions for online and print.
During the broadcast section Lopetegui was non-committal over Fullkrug.
But now Sun journalist Jack Rosser has revealed what the Hammers boss said when pressed on Fullkrug’s availability for the Chelsea clash.
“Niclas Fullkrug has returned to training ahead of the Chelsea game,” Rosser confirmed on X.
“But Lopetegui says a decision is yet to be made on whether he can play tomorrow.
“JL: “”He’s trying to be ready and OK.
“But we have to have the last view with the medical team.”
Goodness knows West Ham need him.
The jury is very much out on whether Tim Steidten and Lopetegui made the right call signing the 31-year-old.
Especially given his lack of pace – a non-negotiable necessity in the Premier League – and injury history.
Hammers fans wanted the club to push the boat out and sign Jhon Duran.
The Colombian has been showing why ever since West Ham ditched their move for him.
If Fullkrug is available for Chelsea it will give West Ham a massive boost.
And if he can get his first Premier League start and goal then it could change the entire narrative around him.
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