There is utter confusion at West Ham on the eve of the trip to Newcastle United after Julen Lopetegui put a cat amongst the pigeons.
West Ham head to St James’s Park to face an in-form Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday night.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies have won their last three on the bounce.
West Ham’s own terrible form, the longest away trip of their Premier League season and the pressure mounting on Julen Lopetegui is making for a rather ominous mix.
The Spaniard could reportedly be sacked if West Ham suffer a heavy defeat to Newcastle.
As far as most pundits are concerned, a chastening loss for the Hammers is an inevitability.
Lopetegui admitted ahead of the game that West Ham have two injury doubts for Newcastle.
That’s in addition to being without star player Mohammed Kudus yet again due to suspension.
Kudus terrorised Newcastle as West Ham took a 3-1 lead in the same fixture towards the end of last season, back in March.
Utter confusion as Lopetegui claims West Ham star is banned for Newcastle
That was until disaster struck and the Hammers collapsed to lose 4-3.
The Ghanaian serves the fourth of his five-match ban.
It just turns the pressure up even more on Lopetegui for such a big game.
They say pressure can do funny things to people.
So that might explain what the manager and the club have said about another Hammers player ahead of the trip to face the Magpies.
There is utter confusion as Lopetegui claims another West Ham star isn’t allowed to play at Newcastle.
West Ham were set to be boosted by the return of Edson Alvarez for the game.
Mexican midfielder Alvarez was brainlessly sent off in the 3-0 defeat at Forest back on November 2nd.
It shows what the Hammers are up against at Newcastle that Howe’s side smashed Forest 3-1 a week later.
Alvarez was forced to sit out the draw with Everton before the international break due to suspension.
Website Premier Injuries had claimed the 27-year-old would also be suspended for West Ham’s clash with Newcastle.
Alvarez received two bookings against Nottingham Forest, and was suspended for one-game as a result.
Some have suggested that because it was the Mexican’s second red card of the season – after also being unprofessionally sent off at Liverpool – he will be forced to sit out two games.
West Ham contradict Premier League over Alvarez suspension
Whilst he has been handed two red cards, one of them was in the Carabao Cup in that game at Anfield in September.
That doesn’t count towards the Premier League’s totting up rules.
But Lopetegui says he “thinks” Alvarez is suspended for the Newcastle game. And the same has been repeated by West Ham’s official website in their previews for the match.
“Unfortunately I think that the red card with Edson is going to finish after Newcastle,” Lopetegui said in his pre-Newcastle presser.
Bizarrely that directly contradicts what the Premier League’s own official website states ahead of the game.
In its league-wide suspension round-up, the top flight’s website states in it’s “Available for selection” section that Alvarez is not suspended.
“West Ham’s Edson Alvarez, also sent off for two bookable offences, could make his return in the game at Newcastle,” the site states.
Ridiculous situation on eve of such a huge game
Which is it then? This is nothing short of farcical on the eve of a match which could decide the manager’s future.
Surely West Ham and Lopetegui aren’t that desperate they’re trying to play mind games with Newcastle?
If the Premier League says Alvarez is not suspended then why do West Ham think he is?
Everyone makes mistakes. But this is surely something the club should know.
And if they don’t then it’s something the Hammers can quickly and easily clarify.
Very strange indeed.
West Ham and the Premier League need to have a conversation and get this clarified urgently.
Imagine making the long trip north without Alvarez in the mistaken belief he’s not allowed to play.
Either the Hammers and Lopetegui are wrong or the league’s governing body is.
Related Posts
