NEWSNOWWest Ham v Man City – FA Cup Latest – Live Football TV Free
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WESTÂ HAM begin their FA Cup campaign tomorrow with boss Alan Curbishley sweating on the fitness on a number of players.
The Irons face a third round home tie with Manchester City, who won 2-0 in a league fixture at Upton Park on the opening day of the season.
But, as has been the story of the Irons’ season, Curbishley has a long list of casualties unavailable.
Freddie Ljungberg limped out of Tuesday’s defeat at Arsenal, while Scott Parker and Nobby Solano were both substituted after taking knocks in the win over Manchester United on Saturday. All are unlikely to be fit.
Curbishley also has concerns about four of his back five players – Robert Green, Lucas Neill, Matty Upson and George McCartney – who have almost all featured in every game this season and desperately looked in need of a rest against Arsenal.
Curbishley will however, be encouraged that Matty Etherington could be available after his injury lay off. And he will be hoping that Lee Bowyer recovers fully from his hernia operation – the midfielder has an outside chance of featuring.
Julien Faubert is also back in full training but still a few weeks away from forcing his way into contention.
Meanwhile, John Pantsil and Henri Camara are due to go on African Cup of Nations duty after the match and could figure.
Youngsters Jack Collison and James Tomkins were in the squad at Arsenal and both will be hoping that they will be involved again.
Curbishley said: “It seems at the moment that one comes out and one comes in.
“I’ve got a big squad but we’re putting players in the first team to get fit which is very difficult – it is really stretched.
“A lot of the players have played all the games, the back five especially. In the olden days you used to play week in week out and no-one thought too much of it.
“But if we can get through this weekend it (the injury situation) will start easing off a little bit.”
He added: “Everybody appreciates that the third round is a big day.
“Perhaps it has diminished a little bit over the years but up and down the country you’re going to see people travelling to games and looking forward to fixtures they wouldn’t see too often.
“For me, I would just like to progress in it. As a manager I’ve not done well in the cups so im looking forward to the game.
“So the side that goes will be the strongest one available – we’ve got to attack competitions we think we can do well in and the fans expect that aswell.
“Man City are going great guns, but our record isn’t that bad so it should be an interesting game.”
The Roosters Prediction (Very even game, but because we are at home, then 2-1 to the Hammers)
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