As inconsistent as they have been in the opening weeks of the Premier League season, West Ham United still trail Eddie Howe’s Newcastle by eight points going into Sunday’s clash at the London Stadium.
And as Mateus Fernandes draws worrying comparisons with Southampton – the side with whom he suffered relegation before that £40 million move to the capital – this would be a very good time for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to start pushing in the right direction.
Even 2007/08’s infamous Derby County had more points than West Ham do after nine games.
So, while the phrase ‘sleepwalking towards relegation’ follows the Hammers like a bad smell, it is starting to feel more like they are stuck in a never-ending nightmare, haunted forever by the malevolent spirit of Freddy Krueger.
A club source at West Ham United, in the build-up to Sunday’s battle, insisted that David Sullivan remains ‘100 per cent behind’ Nuno.
Yet, the fact that such questions even need to be asked at this stage speaks volumes about his first month at the helm.
Eddie Howe, in contrast, is as safe as ever, despite an underwhelming start made by this weekend’s opponents Newcastle. The Magpies have won three, drawn three, and lost three. The sky will look that little bit sunnier once their injury concerns ease, though.
Howe is hopeful that rampaging left-back Lewis Hall may be in contention, alongside Will Osula, this weekend. But Tino Livramento and £55 million summer signing Yoane Wissa are still stuck on the sidelines.
Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa plan ruined ahead of West Ham United visit
According to the Northern Echo, Newcastle had hoped to hand Wissa his long-awaited Magpies debut against West Ham.
That will now be pushed back for another few weeks, with Howe also hoping to hand the former Brentford poacher a mini pre-season of sorts to get him up to speed.
“It’s definitely not West Ham,” Howe said during his Friday press conference when asked about when Wissa could return. “He’s working very hard, he’s on the grass, he’s getting the fitness work in that he needs.
“I’d say he’s not close to training with the group at the moment, not through injury but through fitness and making sure we build his robustness. I’m not trying to be evasive. I don’t know when the moment will be when he’s back with the squad.”
Lewis Hall return is possible as Hammers face Nick Woltemade challenge
Wissa scored 19 Premier League goals for Brentford last season. Nick Woltemade, the giant German with a touch of pure velvet, has been a revelation so far in his absence. There may be even more pressure on the 6ft 6ins colossus to keep that flying start going, with fellow frontman Will Osula facing a race against time due to an ankle issue.
Howe is also hoping that Hall may be available to make his first league appearance in five weeks against the Hammers.
“[Hall is] very close. He hasn’t trained with us yet so hopefully he is training with us today for the first time,” Howe adds. “We’ll see how he looks. I think he’s worked really hard, he’s looked after himself, he looks in really good shape.
“We’re really pleased with Nick. We’re really happy with him. I think he’s on and off the pitch, he’s been first class. The way he’s conducted himself, the way he’s handled the move, the way he’s embraced his teammates, his team ethics are excellent.”
A West Ham defence that is making a weekly habit of shooting itself in the foot, then, are up against a team still boasting plenty of ammunition in the final third, even without Wissa and potentially Osula too.
Woltemade scored his sixth goal in 11 appearances during the midweek 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
