Two key West Ham players absent from training ahead of Chelsea clash amid injury concerns

Chelsea and West Ham are currently preparing to do battle in the Premier League at the London Stadium on Saturday. The Blues have enjoyed a steady start so far, picking up seven points from a possible 12, although they will have wanted a couple more than that, while West Ham have disappointed, only picking up four points from four games.

With new managers at both clubs in Enzo Maresca and Julen Lopetegui, smooth sailing was never guaranteed early in the season, but managers do not get a long runway in the Premier League these days, so there is no time to be wasted.

Chelsea head to the London Stadium on the back of a hard-fought away win over Bournemouth last time out, leaving it late to secure all three points, while West Ham also left it late, scoring deep into stoppage time to draw away to Fulham.

It gets no easier for the Hammers against Chelsea, and especially not with some of the injury issues currently facing Lopetegui. New signing Niclas Fullkrug is currently out with a calf and heel issue, and while it was hoped he could return by Saturday. But as noted by Hammers News, he was not spotted in training on Thursday with just 48 hours or so to go.

The same applies for full-back Emerson Palmieri, who was hoping to return against his former club this weekend, but he has also been absent from training this week, suggesting an uphill climb for him to be fit in time to face the Blues.

The injuries are a big concern for the Hammers, with their starting left-back out, while they are also missing a goal threat in Fullkrug having struggled for goals, scoring just five goals in four games, relying on Ings and Michail Antonio in the German’s absence. Jarrod Bowen can also play in a central role.

Were Germany right?

The German national team’s manager Julian Nagelsmann said after the recent international break: “He will have to take a few days off. He will not be playing in the Premier League at the weekend.”

Lopetegui then surprised many by saying ahead of last weekend’s clash with Fulham: “Let's see. Fulla, I hope is going to be ready in the next days. We are evaluating him too today. On Wednesday he was a little bit better. We are going to see how he is exactly and then take last decision about him.  I hope that it's not important.”

Fullkrug did not make it back in time, and he has not trained with the first team since, suggesting Germany’s assessment of his injury proved more accurate than that of the West Ham medical staff, who seemed to be close to risking him last weekend.