West Ham United manager David Moyes is set to make a late call over whether or not Thilo Kehrer will be available for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
The Hammers head into their meeting with the Blues 17th in the table but in improved league form, having only lost one of their four league matches so far in 2023.
Going into the lunchtime derby day kick-off, Moyes does have some late decisions to tinker with.
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In last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle United, German defender Thilo Kehrer was forced off at half-time through injury. Comments from Moyes in his pre-match press conference suggested the former Paris Saint-Germain man would miss the game. However, training pictures released shortly after showed Kehrer in training, suggesting he could be involved.
Another late call could be about goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. He missed the trip to Newcastle with a hamstring issue, leading to Joseph Anang and academy stopper Krisztian Hegyi both making the bench. However, with Hegyi starting for the under-21s on Friday night against Fulham, it could mean Areola is okay and fit enough to make the squad to face Chelsea.
Striker Gianluca Scamacca remains out, with the Italian missing the last three games with a knee issue. There is hope however that he will return to training next week.
Centre-back Kurt Zouma remains out, having missed the last two matches with a thigh issue. Winger Maxwel Cornet remains in France as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.
With potentially a maximum of 20 senior players available, if Areola and/or Kehrer do not return, it will leave West Ham short on options for their matchday squad.
Under-21s players Hegyi, Levi Laing, Kaelan Casey, Freddie Potts, Kamarai Swyer, Keenan Appiah-Forson and Divin Mubama have all been pictured in first-team training this week. However, all seven started for Mark Robson’s under-21s against Fulham on Friday night.
Here is a look at who could feature for the Hammers against the Blues
Full West Ham United squad available to face Chelsea
Goalkeepers: Lukasz Fabianski, Alphonse Areola (doubts), Joseph Anang.
Defenders : Vladimir Coufal, Ben Johnson, Angelo Ogbonna, Thilo Kehrer (doubt), Nayef Aguerd, Aaron Cresswell, Emerson
Midfielders/wingers: Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, Flynn Downes, Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Manuel Lanzini, Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma
Forwards: Michail Antonio, Danny Ings
Potential academy players: Krisztian Hegyi, Levi Laing, Kaelan Casey, Freddie Potts, Kamarai Swyer, Keenan Appiah-Forson, Divin Mubama
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