West Ham have been dealt a major injury worry ahead of Leeds, with the Hammers vying against Tottenham to stay in the Premier League.
It’s all on the line tomorrow.
90 minutes to decide whether Nuno Espírito Santo‘s side remain a Premier League club or begin planning for life in the Championship.
Sunday’s home fixture against Leeds is the last throw of the dice for West Ham, who sit 18th on 36 points — two behind Tottenham in 17th — with nothing left in reserve and no margin for error.
The equation is painfully simple.
West Ham must beat Leeds at the London Stadium and hope that Tottenham lose at home to Everton in the other 3pm kick-off.
Anything else, and the Hammers are down.
Spurs have the superior goal difference, meaning even a draw for De Zerbi’s side would be enough to confirm their survival regardless of what happens in east London.
Insiders say “exciting” West Ham player could join Leeds on one condition
It would be a blow for the Hammers.
West Ham need snookers, but they have 90 minutes to find them.
Leeds have nothing riding on the result.
Daniel Farke has already confirmed that Anton Stach will miss the game through a minor wound, and the German may well rotate his squad with one eye on the summer.
It is the kind of fixture that West Ham simply have to win, and yet this season has been littered with opportunities they have failed to take.
The 3-1 defeat at Newcastle last weekend was the latest in a miserable run. Three consecutive losses have left the London Stadium paralysed by anxiety, and the atmosphere on Sunday afternoon will be unlike anything the ground has experienced since the club last dropped out of the top flight in 2012.
The stakes for the supporters, the staff and the wider community are enormous.
Now, Nuno has been dealt an injury worry.
West Ham dealt Adama Traoré injury worry ahead of Leeds
Speaking ahead of the game, the Portuguese confirmed that Adama Traoré is a major doubt to feature against Leeds.
“It is going to be hard for Adama to join us, but the rest are OK,” said Nuno.
“They have small knocks and we have players to assess, but today hopefully everyone is going to be OK.”
Traore’s absence would be a significant loss.
The 30-year-old Spanish winger, signed from Fulham in January on a short-term deal, has brought pace, directness and an unpredictability to West Ham’s attack that few others in the squad can replicate.
His ability to carry the ball at speed and drag defenders out of position is a useful outlet off the bench, and losing that outlet in the club’s biggest game of the year would be a painful blow.
His contract expires at the end of June, meaning Sunday could be his final appearance for the club if he is indeed fit enough to take part.
If West Ham go down, there is almost no chance of him staying. Even if they survive, the short-term nature of the deal means a new agreement would need to be negotiated from scratch.
For now, Nuno’s focus is on the players who are available.
Every member of the squad who is fit will be needed.
The rest is out of their hands, but they have to hold up their end of the bargain first.
