West Ham United Captain Mark Noble's exclusion from the squad to play the crucial tie against Huddersfield raised more than a few eyebrows, ostensibly it was due to a minor injury, what? This is a man who played last season's big match against Tottenham with a significant hernia, leading some to question the exact details of the 'minor' injury!
West Ham United will pick from : Hart, Zabaleta, Fonte, Reid, Collins, Cresswell,Kouyate , Obiang, Antonio,Hernandez,Carroll.
Subs:Adrian, Sakho, Masuaku,Rice,Ogbonna,Ayew,Byram.
Ahead of tonight's critical match against Huddersfield Town, many Hammers fans will have enviously watched the beginning of the Swansea v Newcastle match. The home side featured two or three exciting players who could have, and maybe should have, signed for West Ham instead, Tammy Abrahams, Wilfred Bony and Renato Sanchez.
Just around the time that 'Motty' has decided he only has one season left in him, not bad for a pensioner, a new breed of commentators might just have to begin getting to grips with getting their lips around how to pronounce West Ham's new wonder kid Sead Haksabanovic's name? It is phonetically pronounced sayad haskerbankovitch, but will do wonders for Paul Merson's mental development among others should they need to be commenting on future games featuring West Ham.
We've been here before haven't we? As news that West Ham United are launching legal action against the Sporting Lisbon director who called co-chairman David Sullivan a “liar” and a “parasite” following the 'Wild' Willy C failed transfer, those of a sceptical persuasion might see the targeting of Nuno Saraiva, Sporting’s director of communications, who claimed Hammers had not made a formal written offer to sign the midfielder William Carvalho, as a 'slight of hand' from a PR point of view.
Smoke and mirrors?
Well, everyone and his dog are splashing the cash! Except West Ham United or so it seems, Do Sully and Co have something dramatic in the pipeline?
We will update this page throughout the evening, but don't hold your breath! - Ed
Crystal Palace are the latest suitors for 'want away' Hammer's Senegalese striker Diafra Sakho, this latest interest comes following press coverage about his final destination ahead of the transfer window closing. West Ham have no desire to sell Diafra Sakho amid reports that the striker is trying to force a move back to France. A photograph on social media appeared to show the Senegal international at a French airport ahead of a proposed transfer to Rennes, while reports in France even go on to claim Sakho has passed a medical with the Ligue 1 club.
Scottish International Snodgrass Burns His Bridges
Those Hammers fans of a certain age, who have been through the mill, will be perplexed but not surprised by by what is happening to their club, but spare a thought for those younger fans who were seduced from supporting traditional 'serial winners' Chelsea, Manchester's two clubs and Le 'Arse by the brief Hammers renaissance inspired by the now persona non grata Marseilles' captain, currently dropped from the french national team, Dimitri Payet.
Newcastle: Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Mbemba, Clark, Hayden, Merino, Ritchie, Atsu, Perez, Joselu Subs: Woodman, Murphy, Diame, Aarons, Saivet, Gamez, Mitrovic
West Ham: Hart, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Collins, Cresswell, Noble, Rice, Antonio, Ayew, Fernandez, Chicharito Subs: Adrian, Fonte, Kouyate, Lanzini, Obiang, Sakho, Masuaku