West Ham: Striker to leave; defender reveals Liverpool rejection; new injury concern

By Sam Leveridge

Leeds are hoping to secure the services of young striker Ashley Fletcher on loan, claim the Express. However, the summer signing from Manchester United will not be allowed to leave unless another striker is brought in in January to provide cover with Fletcher playing a role from the bench so far this campaign.

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A move to the Championship would give him a good chance for first team football, but has already made seven appearances, including one start, in the Premier League for the Hammers.

Left-back Aaron Cresswell may be enjoying the high of his first international call up this week, but he has also been reflecting on some lows, such as his release from Liverpool at 15-years-old, as he told The Telegraph:

“My dad told me in the car, I couldn’t get my head around it at first. They pull the parents to one side and tell them, ‘it’s not to be but it’s not the end’. I was devastated. As a kid, you are in a bubble of playing for Liverpool. It was all I had done for two years and I had enjoyed it so much. It wasn’t about a job, or thinking, ‘I won’t make it’. It was about playing for the club I supported. Everyone around me was a Liverpool fan. It was just purely for the love of football. My dad said, ‘it is not the end of the world. Go back with your mates. Just play with a smile on your face and enjoy it’. That’s what I did. I went back with the lads.”

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Liverpool’s loss is the Hammers gain though as his diversion via Tranmere Rovers and Ipswich Town have given him a route to the London Stadium and now the England senior team.

Central defender James Collins has withdrawn from the Wales squad for their World Cup qualifier against Serbia on Saturday with a calf injury, claim BBC Sport. He will now return to the club for tests and to try to overcome the injury ahead of the clash with Tottenham next weekend.

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The 33-year-old returned to action in the draw with Stoke having spent the past three games on the bench and the injury will come at a frustrating time for the player.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Craig Ballantyne.