West ham to face fulham in premier league football clash

By Simon Hayes on February 20, 2008 1:26 PM |

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THE FA Cup minnows might have grabbed the recent headlines but for Premier League clubs it’s business as usual this weekend.

West Ham are back in action on Saturday (February 23) when they visit Craven Cottage to face relegation strugglers Fulham. The Irons will be looking to repeat the 2-1 win they had over the same opposition at Upton Park on January 12.

The two-week break since the Hammers’ last game against Birmingham has seen their squad bolstered by the return to fitness of Bobby Zamora, who looks likely to compete for a place up front with Carlton Cole and Dean Ashton.

Zamora made an impressive appearance for the reserves last Tuesday (February 12), hitting a second half hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Birmingham.

The 27-year-old striker has not featured in the Hammers’ first team since the Carling Cup game against Bristol Rovers back on August 28, with a persistent knee injury taking longer to clear up than first anticipated. But after completing the whole game against Birmingham, he hopes he might finally be in line for a first team comeback.

“It has been a while,” Zamora told the club website. “To get a full 90 minutes and score a hat-trick against a good team is nice, having got 65 minutes [against QPR] last week. They had a lot of pros playing, so to do well was good. We worked hard and thankfully I scored a few goals.”

Alan Curbishley has bemoaned his lack of options in recent weeks, particularly having to try and get players fit in the first team, so Zamora’s return will be particularly welcome as the Hammers look for a strong finish to the season. A lack of goals has cost them points in their quest for European qualification.
One player who looks set to miss the run-in is Zamora’s fellow forward Craig Bellamy. The Welshman needs surgery on the abdomen problem which has restricted him to just nine appearances following his £7.5million move from Liverpool last summer.

Head physio George Cooper said: “There is a feeling that if he carries on with slight symptoms they are likely to get worse rather than better. The symptoms have to go.

“The operation will complement the excellent work he has done before and that should be the last bit he needs before continuing his strengthening.”

The date of West Ham’s home match against Portsmouth has been moved from Saturday, April 5. Major London Underground engineering works are taking place that weekend. A new date has yet to be confirmed although it is likely to be during the week commencing Monday, April 7.

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk