Manuel Pellegrini has been forced to work with a greatly reduced squad of late, but Football.London suggesting that the Hammers expect to have a range of key figures return got a rise from these supporters when West Ham Fan Zone shared the news, but the report has since been rubbished by the Evening Standard.
Football.London had suggested earlier in the week that Pellegrini could have Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri, Fabian Balbuena and Manuel Lanzini all play a role in some capacity against Fulham on Friday.
It would signal Balbuena and Wilshere’s first matches of 2019, Lanzini’s first under the Chilean and only Nasri’s third Premier League game in Claret and Blue.
The French midfielder, however, has since been ruled out as far as the Evening Standard are concerned, as they have reported that the January addition has not shaken the calf injury that has recently kept him out of action.
The update on Nasri’s situation falls in line with what a lot of the fanbase had been sharing on social media, as they were surprised to not only see his name among the likely returnees but also Wilshere, who will not feature on Friday as he will be assessed again next week…
Looool Wilshere ????♀️????♀️????♀️ thought he was out for the season ????????
— Steve (@Steve_WHU_) February 19, 2019
Already been confirmed Jack and Nasri not ready yet,
— Dave RedgewellOS2016 (@redgewd) February 19, 2019
Jack Wilshere….you sure?
— tony pearce (@teepee61) February 19, 2019
Who’s opening a book on which one won’t be?? One runner in that race me thinks
— David Elliott’ (@djelliott68) February 19, 2019
I thought I read somewhere Nasri wasn’t available this week as he was still recovering from a calf problem?
Hopefully that’s wrong, having all of these players back would be a huge boost
— Michael ⚒ Zdenek (@MichaelZdenek) February 19, 2019
Be very very surprised if Nasri and Wilshere were in the squad https://t.co/nPDlfzsvpI
— West Ham News (@whufc_news) February 19, 2019
Wilshire will play 5 mins then be out for the rest of the season
— Bosch machine (@BoschCraig) February 19, 2019
I thought Wiltshire was out for the season we need balbuena/Nasri and the magic man Lanzini
— Ian Hegder (@IHegder) February 19, 2019
None of this is true, Lanzini only just returned to training, Not sure Nasri and Balbuena are fit to play yet and Jacks out for the season
— Mark Horgan (@MarkHorgan18) February 20, 2019
This is great news if true
— Alex Bicknell (@AlexBicknell89) February 19, 2019