West Ham United’s players have had almost the whole week off before they travel to face Newcastle United on Sunday in a match that will decide the fate of the northeast club’s Barclays Premier League status.

Aside from a session on Wednesday, the east London club’s squad have been off since they lost 2-1 at home to Everton on Saturday and do not return until lunchtime today, when they are due to train. A handful of injured players have been at the club’s training ground at Chadwell Heath, in Essex, this week.

The news will anger Hull City, who need to beat Manchester United on Sunday and hope that West Ham can take points off Newcastle if Steve Bruce’s side are to survive in the