Joe Hart West Ham HuddersfieldGetty

West Ham Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Brighton

West Ham will hope to secure a much-needed three points when they face Brighton & Hove Albion in a game that could already be construed as a six-pointer.

Both sides have endured patchy starts to the season, and they are currently level on points, having each won two, drawn two and lost four of their opening eight matches in 2017-18. Brighton sit in 14th and West Ham in 15th, as Chris Hughton's side boast a marginally better goal difference.

This encounter, then, is a chance for each side to lay down a marker as they bid to build some momentum and climb the table.

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WEST HAM INJURIES


West Ham were dealt a potentially serious injury blow this week, as striker Javier Hernandez pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury in training.

Sources close to the club have confirmed that Hernandez was subsequently sent to hospital for a scan, but it is understood that the club are cautiously optimistic that he will be fit to play against Brighton.

Hernandez, a summer capture from Bayer Leverkusen, has scored three goals thus far this season, but has struggled at points, with manager Slaven Bilic often deploying him on the left flank. Indeed, the Mexico international has netted in just two games - he scored twice in a 3-2 defeat to Southampton, and once in another 3-2 loss, to Tottenham at London Stadium.

Elsewhere, defender James Collins is a doubt for the game, due to an ankle injury.

Javier Hernandez Chicharito West Ham United

WEST HAM SUSPENSIONS


West Ham will be without striker Andy Carroll, who was sent off during the club's 1-1 draw with Burnley last time out and is serving a one-match ban.


WEST HAM POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP


Slaven Bilic deployed a seemingly old-fashioned 4-4-2 to good effect against Burnley last time out, though his plan was hindered by the sending off of Carroll after just 27 minutes, with the Hammers leading 1-0.

Thus, Bilic is likely to revert to a 4-2-3-1 system this time around, and Javier Hernandez is likely to lead the line, provided his hamstring injury is not as serious as first feared. If he is, indeed, ruled out, then Diafra Sakho will likely step in.

Joe Hart will almost certainly continue in goal, with Jose Fonte and Winston Reid set to play in central defence.

Further forward, Michail Antonio scored West Ham's only goal at Turf Moor and will surely be given another chance to impress from the right flank, while Marko Arnautovic will line up on the opposite flank.

Antonio 17/10 to score anytime

Manuel Lanzini, injured for the opening portion of the season, is set to play at No.10.

West Ham XIGoal

BRIGHTON TEAM NEWS


Brighton were so very close to beating Ronald Koeman's beleaguered Everton side last time out, only for defender Bruno to concede a last-minute penalty, which Wayne Rooney converted to earn the Toffees a 1-1 draw.

Hughton's men will be without defender Shane Duffy, who has a groin strain, while Davy Propper is also out with a thigh problem.

Steve Sidwell is a long-term absentee, and is not set to be back in action until November due to a back injury.

Striker Tomer Hemed is serving the final game of a three-match ban, having been found guilty of violent conduct for an apparent stamp on right-back DeAndre Yedlin during the Seagulls' 1-0 win over Newcastle.


OPTA MATCH FACTS


  • West Ham won both league games the last time these sides met, including a 6-0 home win in the 2011-12 Championship season.

  • Brighton have only won one of their seven league visits to West Ham (D2 L4) – a 1-0 win in the Championship in November 2004.

  • West Ham have won both of their previous home Premier League games on a Friday by a 1-0 scoreline – against Coventry in December 1997 and Tottenham last season.

  • Brighton have picked up just one point (W0 D1 L3) and scored just one goal in their four Premier League away games so far this season. Their only point on the road came in a 0-0 draw at Watford, who played with 10 men for 66 minutes of the match.

  • Since Slaven Bilic took charge of West Ham United in the summer of 2015, the Hammers have been given 12 red cards in the Premier League – three more than any other side in this period.


TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME


The match is being televised in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League and will kick off at at 20:00. It can be streamed live on Sky Go.

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