West Ham United vs Huddersfield Town. Premier League.
London StadiumAttendance59,931.
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Saturday 16 March 2019 07:22, UK
Huddersfield boss Jan Siewert faces an injury crisis as he looks to keep his side's slim survival hopes alive at West Ham.
Captain Jonathan Hogg may be missing for at least three more weeks, Siewert revealed ahead of Saturday's 3pm kick-off, after sustaining a rib injury in their defeat to Brighton earlier this month, but there are several other concerns for Siewert as Huddersfield's hopes of staying up fade.
"Unfortunately there are many injuries at the moment," Siewert said in his pre-match press conference.
"Jonathan could be out for two or three more weeks. He had a big impact on his ribs."
Siewert said that Erik Durm is a concern, but Terence Kongolo could train on Friday and Tommy Smith is back from injury.
"We had 15 healthy players on the training pitch today," the manager said. "We will have a look at the squad in training on Friday before we choose our team."
West Ham can make up ground to eighth-placed Watford, who do not play this weekend, with victory over rock-bottom Huddersfield, and Manuel Pellegrini told reporters he does not want the Hammers to take the ninth position they currently occupy for granted.
He said: "We still have ambitions, of course. I don't think that we must be happy because we are in ninth, as a manager, as a player or as a club you must always demand more.
"We will try to win as many points in the next eight games before we finish the season. We cannot evaluate our season now as a lot depends on our last eight games."
Andy Carroll may have played his last game for West Ham after yet another injury setback.
The former England striker has been missing from the Hammers squad for the last two matches, and Pellegrini has now revealed Carroll has an ankle problem.
Pellegrini is set to hand Marko Arnautovic his first start since January.
Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko, Carlos Sanchez and Winston Reid remain on the sidelines. Fabian Balbuena is set to figure for the first time since December after recovering from a knee injury.
Siewert confirmed Kongolo might return after missing last week's home defeat to Bournemouth due to a muscle strain and Smith is back in contention after suspension.
Durm sustained a minor strain in training this week and is doubtful, while Hogg, Laurent Depoitre, Adama Diakhaby, Isaac Mbenza, Demeaco Duhaney and Danny Williams were all still out.
I've been interested with what Manuel Pellegrini has done because this wasn't easy at the start of the season. He's calmed the fans and team down. They seem to be quite united now.
They've managed to keep Marko Arnautovic and he'll be back in the lineup for me this weekend. Huddersfield are playing for a bit of pride but they're gone [relegation]. I think Arnautovic's return means West Ham are going to have a comfortable afternoon. I expect him to score two.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: West Ham 3-0 Huddersfield (10/1 with Sky Bet)