West Ham handed huge lift as star sees three-match ban overturned

West Ham defender Fabian Balbuena has had his three-match suspension overturned following a successful claim for wrongful dismissal.

Balbuena was sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh on Saturday after he caught Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell with his studs as he cleared the ball.

The 29-year-old will now be free to play on Monday when the Hammers travel to Burnley in the Premier League, in addition to subsequent games against Everton and Brighton.

An FA statement read: “An independent regulatory commission has removed Fabian Balbuena’s three-match suspension following a successful claim of wrongful dismissal.”

Kavanagh did not initially blow for a foul but the incident was brought to his attention by VAR.

The match official reviewed the footage on the pitchside monitor and then decided to show a straight red card to the Paraguay centre-back.

West Ham manager David Moyes called the decision “rank, rotten” after his side’s 1-0 defeat by their top-four rivals.

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Hammers urged to sign striker

West Ham have been urged to raid London rivals Chelsea for an attacker this summer who would immediately improve their team.

England frontman Tammy Abraham is the player in question, with his Stamford Bridge future currently up in the air. We told you, in an exclusive report, that the 23-year-old will have to drop his wage demands to leave the club – with the Hammers one of the clubs chasing him.

And now Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison has had his say on the striker’s future.

The former Crystal Palace frontman is touting Abraham for a switch to the London Stadium. He believes that the forward will score goals for an improving Hammers outfit.

He told Sky Sports News: “100 per cent. Tammy would go to West Ham and score bundles of goals, if they manage to keep Jesse Lingard and add to that squad.

“He’s a good young striker, he’ll keep improving. He’ll score goals, he’s a threat in the air, he can stretch teams in behind. He is also good with his back to goal.

“He needs an arm around his shoulder. West Ham are a team on the up and if they have the funds, they should definitely go and sign Tammy Abraham.”