West Ham vs Newcastle Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Nuno Espirito Santo seeks his first positive result in charge of West Ham with Newcastle the Hammers' latest opponents on Sunday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Fubo
West Ham preview: Sinking ship?
The appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo has so far failed to have the desired effect at West Ham with the Hammers having picked up just one point from their four games since he took charge, while they have lost their last three.
The latest saw then fall to a 2-1 defeat against promoted side Leeds last Friday, and Espirito Santo has already come under criticism in some quarter for some surprising selection decisions.
Newcastle preview: Steady improvement
Across all competitions, Newcastle have now won five of their last six games, yet they remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table heading into the weekend.
Their late 2-1 victory over Fulham last Saturday certainly helped their cause though, and they now find themselves in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup - a competition they won last season - after beating Tottenham 2-0 in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
West Ham team news: Four missing
Oliver Scarles joins the injury list with the youngster set to be out until December after surgery on his collarbone, while striker Niclas Fullkrug is still in recovery from a thigh injury.
Callum Wilson has been largely left out in the cold since joining the Hammers in the summer, but with Lucas Paqueta - guilty of two recent breaches of misconduct - proving ineffective as an out-of-position forward, Espirito Santo could turn to the former Bournemouth and Newcastle striker for answers.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Diouf; Fernandes, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Wilson
Unavailable: Mavropanos (Injured), Scarles (Injured), Earthy (Injured), Fullkrug (Injured)
Questionable:
Newcastle team news: Hall close to a return
Lewis Hall has begun training with the team but is unlikely to return to the squad just yet, while William Osula is being monitored as he deals with an ongoing ankle issue.
Illness meant that Sandro Tonali was only used from the bench last weekend, but having played midweek, is likely to start here. Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa are still out.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Tonali; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Unavailable: Livramento (Injured), Wissa (Injured)
Questionable: Ashby (Fitness), Hall (Injured), Osula (Injured)
West Ham vs Newcastle prediction
Such is the state that West Ham are in right now that questions are already being asked about Espirito Santo following three straight defeats. Those questions will only ease once he records his first win in charge of the club, but that is a tough ask here against a Newcastle side who appear to be heading in the right direction.
The Magpies are a far more settled side, and with West Ham struggling to find the net with regularity, a win to nil for the visitors is worth considering.
West Ham vs Newcastle tip: Newcastle to win to nil
