London Stadium

Jesse Ligard's impact since he arrived at the London Stadium on loan from Manchester United has been nothing short of brilliant, goals, assists, you name it. Such have been his performances that his value has rocketed to the point where it is becoming increasingly unreachable by West Ham.

If you cast your eye over the various media reports, you wouldn't be blamed for thinking that West Ham United are the only Barclays Premier League club to be virtually broke, news of a £65 Million loss which is apparently only the tip of the financial iceberg, has been broadcast almost with glee!

Reports are awash that Hammers can't afford to sign on loan star Jesse Lingard permanently, with Manchester United demanding too much money for him, or depending where you read it, that any deal is going to be scuppered by the player's wage demands, and so on.

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.

Was the timing of the 'Euro Soccer League' announcement an example of the type of 'cunning stunts' that will be running the 'top boy's club'? We are sure the analogy will not be lost by most viewers, particularly those of a certain age who watched TV comedies in the early nineties, 'cunning stunt' was a play on words that 'kinda lingers'.

There appears to be an under swell of fetid comments regarding West Ham United's 'bromance' with Jesse Lingard, his arrival at the unnamed London Stadium, let's call it the Teslar Stadium and pretend the club's sponsors are electric rather than eclectic, has been nothing short of 'Payetesque'.

The continued concern about the fitness of Hammers midfield dynamo, Pablo Fornals, means that David Moyes has a serious selection decision to make. Last time out, without Lingard who couldn't play, and Fornals who had picked up an injury during the victory over Leeds, Moyes elected to start club stalwart Mark Noble, and the result was clear for all to see.

Big Mich Antonio, or Mikey as his manager likes to call him, is the ever popular and effervescent 'false' striker employed by David Moyes to fill the expensive void left by the club's most expensive signing Sebastien Haller. The sale of the aforementioned to Ajax at an astonishing £25 Million loss, necessitated more game time for Antonio who has struggled with hamstring and thigh issues, mainly hamstring, ever since his arrival at the club from Nottingham Forest.

Championship top three team, Watford, are mounting a serious challenge for automatic promotion straight back to the Barclays Premier League, and to that purpose they will utilise the services of Domingos Quina and Jeremy Ngakia, both youth players 'filched' by the Hornets from West Ham United.

It seems as if virtually every Hammers game of late has been a 'seminal' one, right back from the astonishing fight back from a 3-0 deficit away to Tottenham that left Jose Mourinho emotionally scarred. Having 'done the double' over Marcelo Biesla's beautiful team by winning 'ugly', David Moyes's team confirmed their place as genuine contenders for a place in European competition next season, the only question being whether it will be a champions League place, or one in the Europa League.