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News media sources are awash with doom and gloom stories relating to West Ham United, Andre Ayew's long term injury after playing a mere 35 minutes against Chelsea, in addition to Aaron Cresswell's long term injury sustained in a pre-season friendly have rather set the tone for the reporting. So recent rumours that Andy Carroll has picked up another injury and that Dimitri Payet has a 'slight knock' in addition to Cheik Kouyate being injured are par to the course, but are they true?

(1) Slaven Billic has to balance Barclay's premier league attainment against Europa League progress.
(2) Gokhan Tore needs to 'pound the weights'
(3) Sam Byram deserves a start despite being a bit too aggressive
(4) Although he missed a sitter at the end, Mikael Antonio deserves to start as a winger ahead of Tore
(5) Astoundingly there were no additional injuries sustained!- Ed

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West Ham: Randolph, Byram, Oxford, Ogbonna, Burke, Obiang, Noble, Antonio, Valencia, Tore, Calleri SUBS: Adrian, Collins, Reid, Kouyate, Browne, Fletcher, Carroll