A host of players are away with their countries for the international break but West Ham still have a strong squad training ahead of Spurs.
The Hammers go to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
It’s a huge game for West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui and his Spurs counterpart Ange Postecoglou.
Both have found themselves under pressure.
That has eased slightly on Lopetegui’s shoulders thanks to West Ham’s 4-1 win over Ipswich.
But it grew heavier on Postecoglou’s following Tottenham’s collapse from 2-0 up to lose 3-2 to Brighton last time out.
West Ham have a host of players away on international duty right now.
It says a lot about how much the squad has improved, though, that there are still a host of quality players left behind at Rush Green.
Many of those will feel aggrieved not to have been called up for their national sides.
Crysencio Summerville is desperate for a senior Dutch call-up but simply hasn’t played enough for the Hammers so far – much to the disappointment of many fans.
Guido Rodriguez is a World Cup and two-time Copa America winner with Argentina. But he has been left out of former West Ham defender Lionel Scaloni’s squad too.
Jarrod Bowen, Max Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka can all feel hard done to by interim England boss Lee Carsley as well.
If he maintains the level of performance seen against Brentford and Ipswich, Jean-Clair Todibo will surely not be too far away from joining Alphonse Areola in the France squad either.
Just because a large group of stars are away with their countries doesn’t mean the hard work stops back at West Ham.
Here’s five things spotted in West Ham training as a forgotten man reappears and key trio spark fears.
1) Forgotten man reappears at West Ham
When the transfer window closed Lopetegui admitted he was assessing the free agent market in search of a fourth central defender.
As yet the club are yet to bring one in – although space has been left in the squad should the opportunity arise.
Lopetegui’s search for a free agent centre-back seemed the like death knell for any hopes Brazilian Luizao had of making it at West Ham.
The 22-year-old joined West Ham on a free transfer from Sao Paulo way back in January 2023.
The left-footed centre-back is still yet to play a first-team game for West Ham.
Luizao looked set for a move to Turkey last month after West Ham rejected a £2.5 million bid for the centre-back from Brazilian club Corinthians.
West Ham fans could be forgiven for forgetting he was even still at the club. But he is and Luizao reappeared in Hammers training in footage on the club’s YouTube channel.
Luizao looks to be enjoying himself in rondos and small-sided matches. However, it’s unlikely this is anything other than making up the numbers with the international players away.
2) £30m man really starting to seem at home
Todibo announced his arrival in the Premier League with a man of the match display against Ipswich.
After being drip-fed into life at West Ham, the 24-year-old Frenchman seems to be loving it.
That was evident in his first two league starts for the club.
But also on the training ground. Todibo shows his skill on the ball by scoring a couple of excellent goals in small-sided games.
What will undoubtedly enthuse Lopetegui and West Ham fans most, though, is Todibo’s charisma around the training ground.
He can be heard saying good morning to everyone at the training ground and enjoying some banter with staff.
Todibo seems a real character and is starting to show the personality which made him a leader at Nice.
It comes after Michail Antonio named Todibo and Wan-Bissaka the two signings who have made the biggest impact at West Ham so far this season.
3) Key West Ham trio spark fears
On the subject of Wan-Bissaka, he and two other top West Ham stars have sparked fears.
Because he was nowhere to be seen in training ahead of Spurs.
More worrying still, Hammers talisman Bowen was also missing from the action.
Bowen put in a brilliant performance with a goal and two assists against Ipswich.
But he was furious with fellow former Hull star Jacob Greaves after a painful foul on him.
Bowen was seen limping gingerly after that and at the end of the game. Given the issues he has had with ankle injuries in the past, there will be obvious concern Bowen was not in training ahead of such a massive game as Spurs away.
Like Wan-Bissaka, though, it could just be precautionary with the players being rested for a few days to get over minor knocks. At least that’s what West Ham fans will be hoping.
A tell tale sign of a big Hammers worry is the absence of Niclas Fullkrug.
The German has been out for five games with an Achilles and calf issue.
West Ham were non-committal over rumours Fullkrug now needs an operation. As things stand there are no guarantees the £23.5m striker signing will be available for Spurs.
After a month out, one would expect to see Fullkrug training to regain fitness over the international break if he was on track for a comeback any time soon.
He is nowhere to be seen in the footage either, though. He may be in the gym doing his own rehabilitation of course. And Fullkrug teased he would be ‘back soon’ on social media at the weekend.
4) Exciting wingers show their speed and skill
Fullkrug may still be on the sidelines but one thing is for sure, Lopetegui cannot bemoan his attacking options at West Ham.
As well as Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta, Carlos Soler and Antonio, the Spaniard has two really exciting wingers in reserve.
Summerville has impressed West Ham fans in his cameos so far.
And Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme got his first taste of Premier League action as a sub against Ipswich.
Both looked sharp, skilful and quick in training. So quick in fact Guilherme and Summerville left Emerson and Aaron Cresswell for dead in the footage.
The Hammers duo also got a couple of nice goals during the small-sided games.
5) West Ham’s homegrown Jhon Duran involved?
As the self-styled Academy of Football it was great to see a host of young stars stepping up to make up the numbers at Rush Green.
One of those was Kamarai Simon-Swyer.
The 21-year-old striker has a similar build and style to West Ham’s big summer striker target Jhon Duran.
West Ham could not get that deal done and turned to Fullkrug instead.
But Lopetegui could have his own version of Duran in the shape of Swyer.
The Academy star scored a lovely Duran-esque goal for the Under 21s against Newcastle a couple of weeks ago.
He showed superb pace, strength and finishing ability, as you can see in the post below.
West Ham fans will be hoping he uses this two-week break to impress Lopetegui up close.
Because if there is one area West Ham really need the Academy to produce a gem for, it’s up front.
Especially with Fullkrug out and Michail Antonio injury-prone and turning 35 in March.
Related Topics