Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani set to face West Ham after being passed fit
Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani are expected to be fit to face West Ham this afternoon after staying with the squad for the game.
West Ham travel to Old Trafford for a huge clash with big top four implications on Saturday afternoon, and Reds manager Ralf Rangnick admitted that both forwards were doubts for the game.
Ronaldo had been receiving treatment for a neck problem, while Cavani hadn’t trained all week at the time of the pre-match press conference.
But on Friday night both strikers were spotted arriving with the Man United squad ahead of the game [The Mirror], which suggests that both are fit to feature in the big game.
Jadon Sancho wasn’t seen with the squad however after a family bereavement saw him miss the midweek game. Jesse Lingard was with the team [MEN].
Blessing in disguise?
For West Ham, the fact both are in the squad means they’re likely to play which could actually be a positive for the Hammers.
Ronaldo has scored twice in the last six games, while Cavani has gone four games without a goal and scored just twice all season.
With a combined age of 70, neither man is as quick as they once were and with West Ham looking to play on the front foot that could benefit them in containing them.
Rangnick has also been vocal about how he likes to play them together, which means the team immediately loses pace and makes West Ham’s job of containing them easier.
The Hammers know a win would be huge for their top four aspirations, and a half-fit Ronaldo and/or Cavani starting the game is something they can take encouragement from.
In other West Ham news, View: West Ham can secure major coup after latest transfer developments