West Ham have a major injury concern to a top player ahead of the trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
This weekend’s Premier League fixtures feel like a crossroads in the season.
West Ham’s trip to Nottingham Forest is one of the fixtures which could be a fork in the road.
Particularly for the Hammers.
Half-time of this weekend’s games represents exactly the quarter-way stage of the season.
Nottingham Forest have had a flying start, tasting defeat just once ahead of welcoming West Ham to the City Ground.
Forest are looking to make some some club history by winning three consecutive top flight games for the first time in decades.
West Ham are looking to secure back-to-back victories for the first time under Julen Lopetegui – and first time since February.
Forest a fork in the road for West Ham’s season?
The reason it feels like such a sliding doors moment is because the Hammers can actually go just two points behind Nottingham Forest with a win.
Should Lopetegui’s side follow that up with another win over Everton next weekend, they will go into the international break back in the hunt for a European spot.
Both sides look set to be missing key players for the clash.
West Ham actually believe Forest could be missing four of their best players on Saturday.
The Hammers will head to the home of the two-time European champions without star boy Mohammed Kudus and striker Niclas Fullkrug.
But there could be more bad news for Lopetegui.
West Ham’s worst fears look set to be realised as a top star is missing on the eve of the Nottingham Forest clash.
West Ham’s worst fears realised as star missing on eve of Forest
Earlier this week it was claimed Lopetegui is set to make three major changes for Forest.
One of those was bringing defender Jean-Clair Todibo back into the starting line-up.
The French centre-back has been seriously impressive since getting a run in the side.
But he was surprisingly on the bench to start the win over Man United last weekend. That was reportedly an injury precaution.
And he looked fine when he came on in the second half. Todibo’s presence at the back helped the Hammers turn the game around and win.
There might be a big issue with Todibo, though.
West Ham released footage from training in midweek and Todibo was nowhere to be seen.
Given the talk of the injury precaution against Man United, that was a real worry.
But that was 72 hours out from the match, so there was plenty of time for Todibo to be back in full training.
West Ham released further images from training on Friday, though, less than 24 hours out from kick-off.
And the bad news is the classy 24-year-old is still missing.
Todibo is not featured in any of the pictures released by West Ham.
Oh no Todibo as Hammers star looks a big doubt
The Frenchman has been spotted arriving at Rush Green earlier this week – in video on Crysencio Summerville’s birthday for example.
He has also spoken to West Ham’s media team about the Forest clash, admitting he is not even 80 per cent fit at the moment.
The fact he has not actually been seen in any of the training videos or pictures suggest he may be receiving treatment from the medical team.
Especially after he was left out of the starting line-up for Man United due to concerns over an injury.
Whether West Ham’s physios can have him ready in time for Nottingham Forest remains to be seen.
At this stage it looks like he may be sitting this one out.
If he does make it, then it will be a nice surprise for the Hammers.
But it looks like Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman, who were both seen training all week, may be starting at the City Ground.
It’s a big blow because West Ham look so vulnerable with that partnership.
Todibo brings a calmness, composure and quality Mavropanos lacks.
Fingers crossed Todibo can make it but it’s not looking good.
Lopetegui has also reacted bizarrely to questions about whether Summerville will start the game. Which suggests he is still reluctant to put the Dutchman in from the off.
Predicted West Ham starting XI without Todibo:
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