Newcastle's recent revival has been hampered by yet another injury-crisis at the club. The club, whose medical staff were accused of being less than capable by an agent of Obafemi Martins, have had a terrible record with injuries in the past five years and their injury-ravaged side were soundly thrashed in their last league game.

Liverpool ran out 5-1 winners at St James' Park and the Toon failed to impose themselves in the 0-0 draw in the FA Cup at Hull last weekend.

Newcastle are without Martins for a couple of months and are also without Viduka, Barton, Gonzalez, Beye, Smith, Enrique and there are doubts over Ameobi, N'Zogbia and Cacapa whilst keeper Shay Given is angling for a move away in the transfer period.

They've started to fall down the table again (they are in 14th), having lost their last two league games. They had previously lost just the once in nine games and Joe Kinnear was settling in to his new job.

West Ham, in 10th, have had the opposite run of form. They were very comfortable 3-0 winners over Barnsley in the Cup last week and they are starting to manage without their main striker Ashton, as was shown with the win over Stoke and the 4-1 away win at Portsmouth.

Gianfranco Zola is capable of keeping the players' heads up and the side is suddenly playing with a confidence which was not evident when they were on their run of one win in twelve games.

Match Betting Previews 10-11 January 2009 >>> Premiership: Arsenal v Bolton - Aston Villa v WBA - Everton v Hull - Fulhan v Blackburn - Middlesbrough v Sunderland - Newcastle v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man City - Stoke v Liverpool - Man United v Chelsea - Wigan v Spurs La Liga: Deportivo v Sevilla - Valencia v Villarreal - Osasuna v Barcelona Serie A: Inter v Cagliari - Juventus v Siena - Roma v Milan Ligue 1: Lyon v Lorient - Bordeaux v PSG

Last weekend also saw international winger Kieron Dyer's first appearance for 17 months and things are looking up for the East Londoners.

West Ham have not won at St James' Park since 1998, but with Newcastle missing a number of players and a renewed confidence amongst the Hammers, the odds of $3.50available are not at all bad, though perhaps not enough to weigh in with a large bet.

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Bet: West Ham to win Odds: $3.50 Stake: 3pts Bookies: Stan James

Match Betting Previews 10-11 January 2009 >>> Premiership: Arsenal v Bolton - Aston Villa v WBA - Everton v Hull - Fulhan v Blackburn - Middlesbrough v Sunderland - Newcastle v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man City - Stoke v Liverpool - Man United v Chelsea - Wigan v Spurs La Liga: Deportivo v Sevilla - Valencia v Villarreal - Osasuna v Barcelona Serie A: Inter v Cagliari - Juventus v Siena - Roma v Milan Ligue 1: Lyon v Lorient - Bordeaux v PSG