West Ham have received a huge double injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash with fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur after confirmation two stars will be available.
It’s the kind of news out of West Ham that will have Thomas Frank and his Spurs side quite literally running scared.
West Ham and Tottenham is one of the fiercest derbies in London.
Both clubs have more traditional rivals in Millwall and Arsenal respectively but there is absolutely no love lost when the Hammers take on Tottenham.
It is a rivalry which has grown throughout the Premier League era and there is an extra edge to this weekend’s meeting at the London Stadium following West Ham’s controversial sale of Mohammed Kudus to Spurs.
Spurs new boy Kudus set for hostile Hammers reception
It was bad enough that the Hammers broke an unofficial 14-and-a-half year transfer embargo to sell Kudus to Tottenham for £30m less than his release clause.
The Ghanaian then rubbed salt in West Ham wounds by declaring he ‘only wanted Spurs’ in his announcement video.
Further footage showed Kudus telling a club medic ‘you will find Spurs in there’ when examining the winger’s heart with a stethoscope.
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Since the move it has come to light that Kudus forced the move by continually turning up late to training.
So his bridges are well and truly burnt with Hammers fans and he is assured a white hot reception at the London Stadium.
Had the game been played a few weeks ago, Tottenham would have been overwhelming favourites.
While Frank had got his Spurs tenure off to a perfect beginning, West Ham had made their worst ever start to a top flight campaign, shipping 11 goals in three games to lose their opening two Premier League matches and exit the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle.
However, new life was breathed into West Ham’s season by a remarkably good 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest.
That was the Tricky Trees’ biggest home defeat for 25 years and the Hammers looked transformed with the likes of new signing Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, Callum Wilson, El Hadji Malick Diouf and the entire defence shining.
Meanwhile Frank was tasting his first competitive defeat as Tottenham were booed by some fans after a 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth.
Hammers fans – and their team – will go to the game with renewed hope and belief.
West Ham get major double injury boost over stars for Spurs
Especially after news emerging from the club ahead of the clash.
Because West Ham have been handed a major double injury boost over stars that will have Spurs running scared.
Pace and power are absolutely key in the Premier League.
They are non-negotiables for players and teams and what separates the English top flight from the world’s other leagues.
West Ham’s struggles in recent times have boiled down to a distinct lack of those two attributes in the team.
Striker Niclas Fullkrug is a major doubt for the Tottenham match after leaving the Germany squad early following a new calf issue.
West Ham don’t believe the injury is ‘anything too much’ – but it seems highly unlikely the striker would be risked unless the medical team are 100 per cent sure it would not aggravate any injury.
Especially as Fullkrug spent six of the nine months of last season out injured with the very same problem.
While doubts remain over Fullkrug’s involvement, two West Ham speedsters will be available.
Nuno Espirito Santo conceded Hammers star Summerville destroyed his team when he came on as a surprise sub in the game last weekend.
The flying Dutchman has been out for eight months after suffering a serious hamstring injury in Graham Potter’s first game in charge back in January. The injury ultimately required an operation, which was delayed when Summerville opted to try and heal naturally first.
The 23-year-old was not due back until after the September international break but returned at Forest and came on with the scores at 0-0.
Summerville’s explosive pace tore Forest apart as he played a hand in all three goals, setting up Bowen for West Ham’s first, winning the penalty for Lucas Paqueta to convert and making the break and pass to Diouf which resulted in Wilson scoring a third.
Rumours have been circulating that Summerville has suffered a new hamstring injury ruling him out of the Tottenham clash.
His impact was so game-changing at Forest that Hammers fans have been left gravely concerned.
Summerville rumours denied and rapid West Ham teammate back too
But a leading West Ham insider close to owner David Sullivan has rubbished the claims, saying Summerville is fit, training and raring to go for the Tottenham game.
“Crysencio Summerville is NOT injured and is in training today,” Sean Whetstone said on X.
“Rumours over the weekend suggested he had suffered a relapse of his hamstring issues after he was missing from the club’s rush green training videos from Thursday.
“He is understood to have taken part in a behind the scenes game on Friday and returned to training today dispelling those rumours.”
Frank won’t be able to go too gung-ho against the Hammers with Summerville’s pace to think about.
It seems unlikely Summerville might start the game given the length of time he has been out.
But he will almost certainly be coming on at some stage.
Another of West Ham’s quickest players is also unexpectedly going to be available for Tottenham.
A minor West Ham miracle was spotted at Rush Green ahead of the derby.
Another jet-heeled Hammers winger the fans have high hopes for this season is Luis Guilherme.
The Brazil Under 20 star impressed at the tail end of last season and in pre-season.
But it was reported Guilherme broke his collarbone on the eve of the new season, ruling him out for at least eight weeks.
However, Guilherme is back training and played in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Watford.
So the Brazilian teenager, who was signed in a £25m deal from Palmeiras last summer, will also be back in the squad to face Tottenham.
Saturday’s game is the 5.30pm kick-off on the Premier League and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.