Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between Swansea and West Ham at the Liberty Stadium as both teams look for important points in their European quests.

Swansea City will get a taste of life without Wilfried Bony when they host West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Ivorian has departed for the Africa Cup of Nations and could soon be leaving the Swans permanently as he nears a £30m move to Manchester City.

The striker has scored 34 goals in 70 games since joining for £12m from Dutch side Vitesse two summers ago - including a division-high 20 throughout 2014.

While selling him at such a price makes good financial sense for a club whose previous record sale is half of the reported figure, Bony's loss will come as a huge blow to Swansea's European hopes.

The Welsh outfit have dropped to ninth after two games without a win, but remain only three points behind the Hammers in seventh, and seven adrift of Southampton in the final Champions League spot.

Goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski, who was controversially sent off in the 3-1 defeat to the Londoners in December, is one of several in the Swans squad who has tipped Bafetimbi Gomis to fill the goalscoring void.

The France international frontman has started only four top-flight games this season, with his single goal coming in the 2-1 triumph over Arsenal. He has three goals in four appearances in cup competitions.

Gomis himself had been linked with a move away from the Liberty Stadium this month, with Crystal Palace rumoured to be preparing a £9m bid, but he now seems poised to enjoy a lengthy run in the side.

The 29-year-old netted a brace in the 6-2 FA Cup victory over Tranmere Rovers last weekend, and could be one of only three players retained in the starting lineup by Garry Monk for West Ham's visit.

With Ki Sung-yueng on Asia Cup duty and Jonjo Shelvey serving a four-match ban, Tom Carroll, who was another scorer against the League Two side, may retain his place alongside the returning Leon Britton in midfield.

Monk should revert to his first-choice back five after all were rested, while the refreshed Wayne Routledge and Gylfi Sigurdsson will be recalled in attacking areas. Winger Jefferson Montero remains sidelined.

Visiting boss Sam Allardyce thought that he would be losing three of his own stars to the AFCON this month, but it turns out that only Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate will be playing at the tournament.

His compatriot Diafra Sakho has returned to England for treatment on a back problem, while, after crunch talks with the Cameroonian FA, Alex Song retired from international football to the benefit of West Ham.

Song's surprise return could be one of just two changes made by Allardyce from their 1-1 FA Cup draw with Everton on Tuesday, in which Romelu Lukaku struck in injury time to earn to Toffees a third-round replay.

The scourge of Swansea in December, Andy Carroll is available again after shaking off a foot injury and will partner Enner Valencia up front. Matt Jarvis and Kevin Nolan are the most likely to drop out midfield.

Despite admitting that his future lies elsewhere, Allardyce shows no signs of dropping defender Winston Reid and is unlikely to do so as the Irons go in search of a first Premier League win in four outings.

Swansea:

Form in Premier League: LLWWLD
Form in all competitions: LWWLDW

Possible starting lineup: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Carroll, Britton; Dyer, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Gomis

West Ham:

Form in Premier League: WDWDLD
Form in all competitions: DWDLDD

Possible starting lineup: Adrian; Jenkinson, Reid, Collins, Cresswell; Song, Noble, Amalfitano, Downing; Valencia, Carroll

Sports Mole says: 2-2