West Ham could welcome back Michail Antonio to the matchday squad on Monday evening when they take on Aston Villa in the Premier League.
The striker has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury he picked up during the 1-1 draw with Manchester City more than a month ago but has been in full training this week and targeting a place in the side once again.
Manager David Moyes is unlikely to throw Antonio in from the start if he is fit with a spot on the bench the most likely outcome for Antonio, meaning Sebastien Hallr should start for the fourth game in a row and off the back of netting the winner against Sheffield United last time out.
Moyes hasn’t got many injury concerns at all heading into Monday’s clash. The only player who is set to be ruled out is Andriy Yarmolenko, who tested positive for covid-19 during the international break and isn’t expected to be able to return until next week at the earliest.
Ryan Fredericks had picked up a knock prior to the victory at Bramall Lane but he is expected to be in contention this evening for a spot on the bench.
Here is how we think Moyes might send his team out at London Stadium.
There aren’t any surprises here as we have predicted an unchanged line up from the side that beat Sheffield United 1-0 eight days ago.
That means the usual back five remains in place as Vladimir Coufal starts a right wing back alongside the three centre halves of Fabian Balbuena, Angelo Ogbonna and Aaron Cresswell with Arthur Masuaku deployed at left wing back.
Moyes established midfield pairing of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek should start once again with England international Rice skippering the side.
Up front, Said Benrahma is still pushing for his first Premier League start but we think the manager will stick to his tried and trusted front three over the last three games which is Pablo Fornals, Jarrod Bowen and Sebastien Haller.
Moyes is not one to change a winning side and one that is performing well and after two consecutive 1-0 wins either side of the international break, there is no reason to suspect the Scot will deviate from that for the visit of Dean Smith’s side.
