West Ham United have picked up of late ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Swansea City and a lot of it is down to brilliant left-back Aaron Cresswell.
The Hammers are up to 13th following a seven point week where they drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield and beat Burnley and Hull City 1-0 in consecutive games at the London Stadium.
As a result Slaven Bilic’s side have edged clear of the relegation dogfight for now.
But one of the key players behind their return to form hobbled out of training injured if reports on Twitter are to be believed.
West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell with manager Slaven Bilic
Left-back Aaron Cresswell is crucial to Bilic’s side as he offers so much balance, width, running, pace and quality on the ball down the Hammers’ left-hand side.
The Liverpudlian suffered a long-term knee injury after being on the end of a bad tackle in pre-season and it was no coincidence that West Ham’s form has picked up considerably with him back in the team.
He was notable by his absence when he missed the 5-1 drubbing at home to Arsenal with a groin strain recently.
The England left-back returned for the trip to his first club Liverpool, though, and the Hammers are unbeaten since.
Bilic could be forced to make do without him again after claims from supporters who witnessed a West Ham training session that the ex Ipswich Town man was helped off the pitch injured by two members of staff ahead of the Boxing Day visit to lowly Swansea City.
Key man: Cresswell
Supporters are worried at the prospect of losing Cresswell for any period of time, particularly if it means the hapless Arthur Masuaku – who was signed as cover for Cresswell in the summer – coming back into the side.
In 90 minutes with Masuaku on the pitch in recent back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal, West Ham conceded eight goals, many down their left hand side.
West Ham fan website The West Ham Way first reported news of Cresswell’s injury although they have not yet been confirmed by the club.
The same site later claimed to have spoken to Cresswell at the training ground and he reassured them he would be fit for the Swansea game.
But that hasn’t stopped supporters fretting on Twitter.
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