West Ham have been handed a boost as star striker Marko Arnautovic returns to training after an injury blow ahead of the clash with Newcastle United, according to the London Evening Standard.
The newspaper claim on their website that the Austrian hitman had been left as a doubt for the Hammers’ Premier League match against the Magpies after picking up a hip problem in the defeat to Manchester City, an issue which saw him hobble off and leave his side playing with 10 men in the final minutes.
However, after missing training early this week it is said he is back and in line to start against Rafael Benitez’s men, who are on a three game winning streak.
Opinion
The news that all the West Ham fans wanted to hear. Losing Arnautovic would have been a massive blow, especially when Manuel Pellegrini will see the game against Newcastle as a very winnable clash, regardless of their recent form. The Austrian brings power and pace to the front line and can cause any side, even one of the big boys, problems and so the Magpies would have been hopeful to see him out of action. Instead the defenders on Tyneside might well be quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing the giant forward, and the rest of the West Ham squad, not to mention the supporters, will be buoyed by the return of their talisman. However, there are of course 10 other players in the Irons’ side and they will all need to be on top form if they are to sink Newcastle, whose own spirits will be flying high after their recent form in the Premier League. It might only be three points, but victory would give bragging rights to two closely matched rivals – Arnautovic could well be the difference.