Smoke me a Kippur,I'll be back for the next game

[The Hitman]

Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim are set to be given permission to miss West Ham's Premier League game at Stoke so they can observe Yom Kippur. The manager Grant and his on-loan Portsmouth defender Ben Haim are expected to be absent at the Britannia Stadium for Saturday's bottom-of-the-table clash while they celebrate the Jewish holy day.

 

The Israeli pair are required to participate in 25 hours of fasting and prayer over the course of Friday and Saturday, during which time Grant's assistant Zeljko Petrovic is likely to take charge of team affairs. Grant observed Yom Kippur prior to his first match as Chelsea manager three years ago before flying by helicopter to Old Trafford for the game against Manchester United.

 

Ben Haim made his league debut for the Hammers in last weekend's 3-1 home defeat by his former club Chelsea, which left Grant's side still searching for their first point of the season. The defender could be replaced in the squad on Saturday by fellow new boy Winston Reid, who made his comeback from a torn buttock muscle in this afternoon's reserve team victory at Everton.

 

It is understood the striker Benni McCarthy was recently fined for failing to meet certain deadlines in his weight-loss regime. The South Africa international was reportedly docked the equivalent of two weeks' wages, or £80,000.

 

He is now thought to have reached the target set by the Hammers medical staff. McCarthy, who has previously admitted his weight balloons when he does not train with intensity, joined West Ham from Blackburn in January but has yet to score for his new club.

 

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Have to say,I'd be livid if,for a relegation 6-pointer,with no points-our new manager sacked the game off for a religious day.

Going to end in tears,Grant at WHU.

[Jonesy]

 

torn buttock muscle

 

 

a holy day for Macca??

[ManxRed]

Its a good name for a band!