Jarrod Bowen will not be risked when West Ham meet Backa Topola in the Europa League on Thursday, but there is hope that he will be fit to face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Bowen is set to remain in London when the Hammers travel to Serbia on Wednesday afternoon for their penultimate group-stage assignment, having missed last weekend’s late win at Burnley because of a knee issue.
The 26-year-old left the England camp in this month’s international break, but Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate suggested that the decision was precautionary.
There is optimism at West Ham that by sparing the forward the midweek trip, David Moyes will have his top scorer back available when Palace visit this weekend.
Victory will see Moyes’s men confirm their place in the knockout stages, though the race for top spot — and a bye into the last-16 — will go down to the home tie with Freiburg, regardless of Thursday’s results.
In the absence of Bowen and fellow forward Michail Antonio, who also suffered a knee injury while on international duty this month, young striker Divin Mubama could be handed an opportunity to lead the line.
Danny Ings started up front against Burnley on Saturday, but Mubama’s introduction off the bench helped spark a vital comeback victory.
