Reliable club source details major injury update on key West Ham duo
West Ham United have been without Issa Diop and Declan Rice throughout pre-season.
The Premier League opener against Newcastle United is less than two weeks away, with the Irons set to face Bournemouth this weekend.
The Irons have already swept aside Ipswich and Wycombe easily and overcame a tough challenge against Brentford in a 2-1 win recently.
What about Rice and Diop though?
Claret and Hugh have reported that David Moyes is hopeful that both will be back to full fitness before that clash with the Magpies at the London Stadium.
The reliable club source claimed that Diop could even feature in the clash with Bournemouth this weekend as he recovers from a calf problem.
Rice’s chances of playing in that last friendly were not addressed in the report, making it unlikely that he will play against the Cherries.
Both are still classed as having a 50/50 chance of featuring against Newcastle, although this definitely makes it seem that Diop is much closer to fitness.
Rice has been pictured working in the gym though, and it will just be his fitness that could need improving before he is thrown into the action by Moyes.
The midfielder is vital to any success the Irons will have next season, although Tomas Soucek’s permanent switch should help cover that blow initially alongside Mark Noble.
The Hammers captain struggled for consecutive appearances last season, so fingers crossed Rice is back sooner rather than later.
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