West Ham set for major new injury boost ahead of Liverpool clash | OneFootball

Nuno Espirito Santo should see thin attacking options bolstered for meeting with crisis-stricken champions

Crysencio Summerville is expected to return to training this week in a boost for West Ham ahead of their meeting with Liverpool.

Summerville had only just returned from a serious hamstring injury which required surgery, but he is expected to be in contention as West Ham host Liverpool on Sunday.

The 24-year-old, who joined West Ham last summer from Leeds, has played an important role under Nuno, starting all of his first six games in charge.

Summerville endured an injury-hit start to life at the London Stadium, but has looked re-energised this season and played a vital role off the bench as the Hammers beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 in August.

West Ham are struggling for options in attack, with striker Niclas Fullkrug still out with a thigh injury and the club managing Callum Wilson’s minutes.

Against Bournemouth, Nuno had to draft in 19-year-old midfielder Luis Guilherme for just his second Premier League start as Lucas Paqueta served a one-game suspension, and Summerville’s return will come as a welcome boost.

Impact: Crysencio Summerville has been a key performer for West Ham under Nuno Espirito Santo so far

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West Ham extended their unbeaten run to three games against Bournemouth, though Nuno was left disappointed after his side squandered a two-goal lead on the south coast.

Returning home this weekend, they take on a Liverpool side who are woefully out of form after falling to their sixth defeat in seven league games against Forest at Anfield.

Meanwhile, West Ham midfielder Lewis Orford has been recalled to the club following an unsuccessful loan spell at Stevenage.

The England youth international moved to the League One side on Deadline Day in the hope of regular first-team football.

However, with Stevenage challenging towards the top of the table, Orford struggled to break into the side and was restricted to just one league start.

The 19-year-old, who trained with England’s senior squad during the September international break, is highly-rated at West Ham, and the expectation had been for him to go out on loan with a view to being promoted to the first team next season.

Orford and centre-back Kaelan Casey, who is on loan at Swansea, were expected to follow in the footsteps of Freddie Potts and George Earthy, who both enjoyed successful loan spells before being promoted to West Ham’s first team in the summer.

Casey, though, is also struggling for minutes, having made just three starts for Swansea in what has been a difficult season for the Championship side so far.

The recent appointment of new boss Vitor Matos could hand Casey an opportunity, but West Ham will be assessing the 21-year-old’s loan carefully ahead of the January transfer window.

Now back at West Ham, Orford will hope he can catch the attention of Nuno, who recently promoted four academy players to train full-time with the first team.

The Portuguese also handed Potts his first Premier League start in West Ham’s 3-1 win over Newcastle, and it’s clear that he is keen to give youth a chance.

It is not yet clear whether West Ham will look to send Orford back out on loan when the January window opens.

The teenager was highly sought-after in the summer, and his return to West Ham will have alerted clubs to his potential availability in the New Year.