Green Street Hammers
Fansided

Burnley Injury News Bodes Well for West Ham

By Adam Smith

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Declan Rice of West Ham United and Dwight McNeil of Burnley during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and West Ham United at Turf Moor on November 9, 2019 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Declan Rice of West Ham United and Dwight McNeil of Burnley during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and West Ham United at Turf Moor on November 9, 2019 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With any advantage welcomed, some big injury news is a big boost to West Ham who are looking to extend their unbeaten streak against Burnley.

First, the Hammers news. It appears West Ham’s big man up top, Sebastien Haller will be a game-time decision with a lingering hip/groin injury. He has been training, but nothing is certain yet. As well, Felipe Anderson is set to miss the Burnley match with a hamstring injury.

Now, onto the Burnley injury news. The most important player they’re missing is Ben Mee at centreback. The claret’s defensive leader gave them a crucial 1-0 win over Crystal Palace two matches ago, but missed out against Sheffield and will not feature against the Hammers either.

This is a massive boost to Michail Antonio who will now likely matchup against James Tarkowski and Kevin Long. Tarkowski is a terrific talent, but without Mee organizing and captaining his team from the back forward, the stingy Dyche team will be easier to attack.

Next up is Jack Cork. Cork has featured in 30 Premier matches this season and has been a solid central midfielder despite not popping up on the scoresheet at all this season. At 31, Cork’s absence can be used as an opportunity to see what some fringe players have, and Josh Brownhill looks to be first in line.

Right-back Matthew Lowton is also not going to be fit for the claret clash at West Ham, allowing more of an opportunity to 35-year-old Phil Bardsley who has featured in 16 Premier League matches this season. Whoever starts on the left side for West Ham should be licking their chops at this matchup.

Lastly and possibly most importantly, striker Ashley Barnes will miss the match after his rehab from hernia surgery continues on. While he is approaching his own restart to football, Irons supporters will be breathing a sigh of relief as he seemingly always finds a goal contribution against the Hammers.

Next. West Ham VS Burnley: Match Preview And GSH Staff Predictions. dark

No Mee should see Antonio start at striker, no Cork should see Rice, Soucek, and Fornals all taking liberties in stepping up centrally, no Lowton means Bowen should play the left side, and no Barnes means West Ham’s defensive duo should focus on aerial duels with Chris Wood. The team tends to pick itself with these gaps in Burnley’s squad, hopefully Moyes can capitalize.