West Ham United play host to Sunderland in the Premier League at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Only a win will do for West Ham as they look to close the gap on 17th-placed Nottingham Forest in the Premier League table but Sunderland will represent a really stern test.
Nuno Espirito Santo will be under no illusions as to the importance of Saturday’s home game against Regis Le Bris’ side.
The Black Cats have been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League this season and are currently sitting in ninth spot in the table, just three points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool.
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Many high-profile pundits are predicting that Sunderland will beat West Ham comfortably this weekend.
However, after the Hammers’ win away at Tottenham last weekend, the players will be well up for this one.
The West Ham vs Sunderland clash will be an intriguing one to watch, with both teams in need of all three points, but for very different reasons.
And on the eve of the game, the Hammers have seemingly been given a very big boost indeed.
West Ham handed monumental boost ahead of Sunderland clash
Nuno will be desperately hoping that his players are able to replicate the levels they showed against Tottenham last weekend.
The West Ham players will need to be on their very best form, if they are to have any chance of beating Sunderland.
Photo by Harry Murphy – Danehouse/Getty Images
The Black Cats are an incredibly well-drilled, physical and technically proficient team.
However, it’s now time for the Hammers players to stand up and be counted.
Sunderland were too good for West Ham in the reverse fixture back in August, with the Wearsiders running out 3-0 winners in the end.
Revenge may well be on the mind of the West Ham players.
Ahead of the game, the east London club have been given some great news, it seems.
According to the club’s official website, Hammers left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf could return for the clash with Sunderland on Saturday.
The 21-year-old has been away at AFCON over the past month or so and he helped guide Senegal to their dramatic victory against Morocco on Sunday.
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Having Diouf back and available for the clash with the Black Cats will be a genuinely monumental boost for the Hammers.
El Hadji Malick Diouf on another level to Ollie Scarles
Ollie Scarles has been decent during the Senegal international’s absence but it’s fair to suggest that the 20-year-old isn’t quite at the top level, yet.
Diouf offers so much more than Scarles, both defensively and inside the final third.
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West Ham will face a really tough challenge against Sunderland and winning the match will be far from straightforward.
However, if Diouf is ready to start for West Ham, Nuno’s side will have a much better chance of doing exactly that.
The former Slavia Prague left-back could be crucial to the Hammers’ hopes of avoiding relegation down to the Championship.
Now the onus will be on him to produce the goods. Whether Diouf will be ready to start for West Ham against Sunderland remains to be seen, though.
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