Team news: Pellegrini has lots of Bournemouth options

 

Manuel Pellegrini reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of West Ham United’s first home clash of the season against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday and has options aplenty for the London Stadium encounter.

After last weekend’s disappointing 4-0 defeat, the Chilean will be hoping his Hammers can bounce back when the Cherries visit east London.

And with a fully fit squad available to select from, barring the side’s three long-term absentees, the boss is positive of the hosts’ chances of collecting three points from their second Premier League game.

He said: “It’s the same three players who have the long injuries; Andy Carroll, Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini. All the other players are OK.

“Every week is important in this moment, when you bring in so many players and have so many changes. We will try to win as many games as possible, starting with Bournemouth now, and we won’t be changing our final target. We have a solid team and I hope we can do it as soon as we can.”

After several new faces came through the the Club’s doors during the summer, six made their debuts at Anfield on Sunday.

And while Pellegrini is pleased with the way his new squad is bonding, he admitted it takes time and hard work to improve as a unit having made a number of changes.

“We have nine new players and every week that you have you are working with them to try and improve,” the manager continued. “When you build up a squad, you know you need to let players go out also. Young players like [Toni] Martinez knew this from the beginning and they were going to go on loan. 

“The squad we have now is our squad for the season; I don’t think we are going to have any more going out at this moment.

“We have brought in good players; players like Felipe [Anderson], who are creative players. Lucas Perez, Felipe, Yarmolenko, they are creative players and they will bring a lot to our team.

“Felipe is a good player. Before we bought him, we saw a lot of games he played. He’s a fast player, a mix between a winger and midfielder.”

Lucas Perez was signed from Arsenal last week before Carlos Sanchez arrived on transfer deadline day, meaning the pair have had little over a week’s training with their new teammates.

And Pellegrini was reluctant to divulge too much information to the press about whether the pair are likely to be involved on Saturday.

“I can’t tell you now [if Perez and Sanchez will be involved]. Carlos arrived just last week on the last day [of the transfer deadline] and has had just a week with us, and Lucas Perez similar. We will see if they are good to go onto the bench, but I cannot say at this moment.”