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The 'wheels of hope' are in full swing as 'positive' news is emerging as to the fitness and availability for players who have been sorely missed in recent games that have seen Hammers push for Europe falter. Aaron Cresswell and Authur Masuaku are looking nailed on for the next crucial game, against Burnley on the 1st of May, the Clarets having just dismantled Wolves by 4-0 at Molineaux.

Craig Dawson returns after his one match ban, and Fabian Balbuena's ludicrous red card, incorrectly awarded during the defeat to Chelsea will undoubtedly be rescinded, as the club have already launched their appeal, if that fails apparently the 'General' has offered to have his leg removed to avoid a similar situation occurring again!

Promising news regarding Declan Rice's recovery from the injury he picked up on International duty has further increased the feel good factor, as there is at least a fifty fifty chance that the best midfielder in Europe will be available, if not for the Burnley game, then definitely for the game against Everton.

All this 'positive vibing' is however compromised by the 'Elephant in the Room', or more accurately the 'Hamstrings in the Room'! Comments regarding Michail Antonio's recovery from injury are conspicuous by their absence, the Hammers striker seems to have disappeared without a trace, his parking space at the club's 'goose green' training ground remains empty, leading to some people thinking he has been kidnapped by members of the 'septic six' in order to permanently derail Hammers unlikely challenge for Europe!

The extra three days of recovery time, courtesy of the TV broadcasters, afforded to David Moyes and his team, has been just what the doctor ordered, three days of 'Pearce & Love' will do the players the world of good, and hopefully the team can come out firing on all cylinders, but it might only be on six, as opposed to the full fat V8 that the team has when 'Big Mich' is playing.

The lack of a replacement for the great sulk that was Sebastien Haller, has come back to haunt David Moyes, without knowing all the ins and outs of the situation, it is easy to lay the blame at the manager's feet, but as well know, the murky side of football is not always revealed until after the event, as has been seen by the machinations of the  'dirty dozen and the septic six'.

If, and it is a big if, Michail Antonio can be patched up enough, then he has to play, his unique style of play 'discombobulates' the opposition to such an extent that errors creep in to their play leaving spaces for Hammers full energy attack to get in on goal...if ever there was a case for a short series of a cortisone treatment, then this is surely the time to deploy it. The consequences of 'cortisone abuse' can be far reaching, but Ant will have the entire summer to get fit and well again, and possibly do some work on his approach to games in order to offset the damage to his hamstrings, or at least limit it.

it has been all hands to the pumps for several weeks, at least the team will start to vaguely resemble the one that blew other teams away earlier in the season. Five games remain that will define whether the club can equal it's best ever season, whatever happens it's been a hell of a ride, pass the heart pills will someone please! - Ed

West Ham: Fabiański, Diop, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Coufal, Noble (c), Souček, Fredericks, Fornals, Lingard, Bowen Subs: Randolph (GK), Trott (GK), Johnson, Alves, Coventry, Lanzini, Benrahma, Yarmolenko, Odubeko
Chelsea: Mendy, Rüdiger, Silva, Christensen, Azpilicueta (c), Kanté, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Pulisic, Werner Subs: Arrizabalaga (GK), Alonso, Zouma, James, Gilmour, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz, Ziyech, Abraham

Hammers face up to Chelsea on Saturday for a game that could have far-reaching implications for both clubs, Champions League qualification is the holy grail awaiting the winners of the tie, defeat might condemn the losers to 'Europa League' ignominy.

One player who seems destined not to be part of the proceedings is Tammy Abraham, the Chelsea striker has been 'frozen out' of their first team since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel as manager. Tuchel has made it clear that Abraham does not feature in his plans, leaving the 23 year old striker in 'no man's land'.

Abraham's omission from the Chelsea first team has seen him lose his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad, just when he really wanted to be included for this summer's Euro competition. At 23 Abraham has his best years ahead of him, but bench warming is not something that sits well with him, consequently he will be handing in a written transfer request if there is no possibility of him featuring regularly for the West London club.

Hammers are 'screaming out' for a 'proper' centre forward, and Abraham ticks all the boxes, fast, athletic, clever and unselfish. He would be a perfect fit at the London Stadium, and another player who would arrive with a point to prove, he will have looked at Jesse Lingard's 'surprise' inclusion in the England squad, and thought I'll have some of that!

So long as Chelsea don't try and ask ridiculous money, his acquisition is a no brainer. Apart from Abraham's qualities as a player, he is also a very decent human being with great awareness of what is going on around him, how do we know? Because this writer, during his 'five year sentence' as an intervention tutor, knew him and his younger brother when they were students, and I can confirm he is a thoroughly decent young man.

Apart from the 'Czech Mates', Hammers success in recruiting has been based on young, hungry players with a point to prove, or quality older players, all UK based. Building a team with a British core seems even more pertinent given the recent shenanigans of the 'European 'Sucker' Cup'. - Ed

Having nearly reached the summit with his team, Hammers manager David Moyes has reached an injury impasse that even he, a manager with nearly 1000 games under his belt, is surely going to find incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to deal with.

The team just about managed to cope with the loss of Declan Rice initially, but that was dependent on having the rest of the team firing on all cylinders, but the injuries to other players have racked up alarmingly. Along with Rice's injury, Moyes has had to nurture Michail Antoinio's hamstrings as if they were the crown jewels, and cope without the Angel, Angelo Ogbonna, in addition he has then lost the services of Aaron 'Mr My Hair IS Never Out Of Place' Cresswell, and a repeat injury to Authur Masuaku who had only just returned to the team following a lengthy spell on the side lines following an emergency knee operation.

Apart from the negativity of the loss against Newcastle, a game that could have seen the Irons go third in the Barclays Premier League, Moyes had more woe heaped on him by the red card picked up by 'Les' Dawson following two reckless challenges.

So to re-cap, Moyes is currently without the services of the following players, and is awaiting late fitness tests to see if any of them will be able to feature in the crucial six-pointer against Chelsea this weekend, Rice is definitely out, Antonio, Cresswell, Masuaku and Ogbonna are all border line, and Dawson is suspended.Moyes cannot suddenly magic up players so what can he do to fill the void?

As we keep banging on, Said Benrahma is available, fit, and desperate to prove his worth, some say that he is too desperate to make a good impression which affects his judgement, and Conor Coventry probably has no idea what it is going to take for him to get his opportunity in midfield.

The grim reality is that Hammers European aspirations are teetering on the brink, the dreadful result against the Toon may well have already scuppered any chances of a Champions League spot, and even reaching the Europa League is going to be a tall order, the job Moyes has done has been magnificent, no one will blame him if the team fall short at the last hurdle as it has been punching above it's weight consistently.

So why not take a little bit of a risk and unleash a player who the club have paid in excess of £20 Million for? And why not use an international player who has come through the ranks at West Ham? Come on 'Moyesiah' break out the loaves and fishes! - Ed