Duo set to miss Stoke clash for Jewish holy day

Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim were today set to be given permission to miss West Ham’s Barclays Premier League game at Stoke so they can observe Yom Kippur.

Manager Grant and 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.