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In ending Newcastle’s winning run at the weekend, West Ham showed that they have what it takes to cope this season when injuries hit their squad, but it doesn’t appear Messrs Gold and Sullivan want to leave it to chance any more.

With their best/most in-form defender (Winston Reid), midfielder (Alex Song) and strikers (Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia) unavailable it took great strength in depth to pull out a 1-0 victory at the Boleyn on Saturday.

But as the Hammers look to continue their assault on a possible European spot, it appears they are turning their attention to Besiktas’ Atiba Hutchinson in order to bolster numbers in January.

The Canadian international can, like summer arrival Cheikhou Kouyate, play either as a centre back or in a holding midfield role, and would add plenty of experience of the elite European competitions, should the east London side reach their target this season.

He has been a mainstay in the Besiktas team throughout the campaign, in both the Super Lig and the Europa League.

The 31-year-old also faced Arsenal when the side’s met in the Champions League play-off round, with Arsene Wenger impressed with his contribution:

“The best player at Besiktas? I was impressed by Hutchinson”, the Frenchman said.

The former PSV man arrived at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on a free transfer in the summer of 2013 and will be available for nothing when that contract expires in June.

However, West Ham could be keen to wrap up a deal in the January with a cut-price deal not entirely out of the question.

With a winnable run of games in the pipeline, the acquisition of an experienced, accomplished player in the middle of the park would add to their options as they continue their assault on the higher positions in the Premier League.

Next up is a trip to West Brom, for which the visitors are available at a generous looking 2/1 to take the three points.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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