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Having spent far too many seasons looking at L'arse end of the Barclays Premier League table, Hammers fans find themselves in the not unenviable position of looking at the top, not bottom, for the first time since the 'Payet' season at the Boleyn during it's final year.

Hammers fans who followed the 'massive' injury boost links will be slightly underwhelmed when they read that one part of the 'massive injury boost' is that Mark Noble will be available for selection, again. We know criticising 'captain Mark' is akin to stamping on a puppy, but the stats for when he has appeared are damning.

Irrespective of where the club eventually finishes in the Barclays Premier League, one of the first orders of business in the closed season is for David Moyes to acquire a 'top notch' striker. The problem is strikers are like gold dust and their price reflects that, having already been 'linked' with Tammy Abraham, Ivan Toney, Abdallah Sima, Adam Hlozek, Adam Armstrong, Youssef En-Nesyri and Odsonne Edouard, the choice seems endless, but is it?

David Moyes is one of the most experienced managers around, anywhere, so his actions are questioned by few and are usually justified by their end result, therefore it would be churlish to suggest that he has 'lost the plot' when it comes to his interaction with Said Benrahma.

Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee (c), Taylor, Brownhill, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Wood, Vydra Subs: Peacock-Farrell (GK), Norris (GK), Gudmundsson, Barnes, Stephens, Rodriguez, Peters, Bardsley, Dunne
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell (c), Souček, Fornals, Lanzini, Benrahma, Lingard, Antonio Subs: Randolph (GK), Trott (GK), Fredericks, Johnson, Alves, Balbuena, Coventry, Bowen, Odubeko

Ahead of what has become an increasingly important fixture against Burnley at Turf Moor this evening, Hammers coach David Moyes has been exercising his injuries poker face. He has already miss led certain sections of the media with his ambiguous comments as to the fitness of Mikey Antonio, Aaron Cresswell, Authur Masuaku and finally Declan Rice!

At the end of last season Aston Villa managed to survive relegation by the skin of their teeth, their cause helped in no small measure by West Ham beating all the Villain's fellow relegation strugglers.

David Moyes's managerial contract was always up for 'review' at the end of the season, and nothing has changed in that respect. It is common knowledge that was a clause added to his contract on his return to the London Stadium which was 'place dependent', essentially if the club finished eighth or above he would have to be offered a one year extension to his tenure.

Surprise, surprise, Fabian Balbueana's red card has been rescinded, all a bit too late now isn't it? OK the game might have been beyond the Irons with ten minutes left and a goal down against Chelsea, but going down to ten men and losing a defender who is very handy in the air didn't help matters!

The 29-year-old Paraguay international received a straight red card in the 81st minute for a 'foul' on Ben Chilwell that would have required the amputation of the 'General's' leg to avoid. David Moyes said the original decision had been made by someone "who's never played the game".

The 'wheels of hope' are in full swing as 'positive' news is emerging as to the fitness and availability for players who have been sorely missed in recent games that have seen Hammers push for Europe falter. Aaron Cresswell and Authur Masuaku are looking nailed on for the next crucial game, against Burnley on the 1st of May, the Clarets having just dismantled Wolves by 4-0 at Molineaux.