Pep needs playmaker to help nail Hammers

KEVIN de Bruyne believes Fernandinho’s return from suspension will provide the foundation for Manchester City to get their spluttering Premier League campaign back on track at West Ham today.

Pep Guardiola’s side have dropped out of the top four and trail leaders Chelsea by 12 points after winning just one of their last four league games.

Guardiola wrote off City’s titles hopes during that unexpected slump, but a comfortable 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday was a much-needed tonic and De Bruyne anticipates the return of Brazil midfielder Fernandinho will be even more significant.

Fernandinho has served a fourmatch ban after receiving his third red card in six games in a win against Burnley on January 2.

During Fernandinho’s absence, City looked alarmingly vulnerable and were thrashed 4-0 at Everton in Guardiola’s heaviest league defeat as a manager.

But the 31-year-old is expected to return to the starting line-up at the London Stadium, with De Bruyne predicting an upturn in City’s fortunes.

“Obviously we’ve missed him,” said De Bruyne. “He’s been an important player throughout his time at City.

“He plays a pivotal role for us in midfield and helps keep everything organised.

“Now he’s served his ban and is available for us again, so it’s a big boost for the team because he’s missed seven games this season through suspension.

“I think Ferna’s one of the best holding midfielders I’ve ever played with. We are very lucky him,” said De Bruyne.

Fifth-placed City are two points adrift of the top four and find themselves in a battle just to secure a Champions League spot after being tipped as likely champions following a blistering start to the season.

However, De Bruyne is confident City can put together a long winning streak as they face Swansea, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Stoke after the Hammers clash.

“Hopefully we can beat West Ham on Wednesday [today] and then put a bit of a run together in the coming weeks,” he said.

“I think we’re playing much better than we did last season. We played so well against Tottenham but only got a point.

“That’s how it’d been going for us this year, so it’s a little bit frustrating. The important thing is we are creating chances so the goals will come.”

City return to east London less than a month after thrashing West Ham 5-0 in the FA Cup third round. That chastening experience should ensure West Ham are fully motivated to make amends in their first match since the sale of star midfielder Dimitri Payet.

Payet was granted his wish to return to his former club Marseille after weeks of rancour over his attempt to engineer the transfer.

Hammers fans were furious with Payet, but Slaven Bilic’s side coped admirably, defeating Palace and Middlesbrough.

“We now look forward to building on our recent good run of form with five league wins as we focus on continuing our rise up the Premier League table,” West Ham co-owner David Sullivan said. — AFP to have