David Moyes has received an injury boost over two West Ham United players ahead of the Hammers’ Europa Conference League battle against Anderlecht.
What’s the latest?
Speaking in Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, the 59-year-old issued an update on the status of the team heading into the clash against the Belgian side at the London Stadium.
Both Nayef Aguerd and Maxwel Cornet were mentioned in what made for a surprisingly positive update, although neither player is in line to feature tonight.
Speaking to the media, Moyes said: “Aguerd is beginning to make his way. He’s doing a bit on the grass. I hope next week he can join bits of the football. He’s a pretty good specimen so he’s one I might try to push on quite quickly, but we need to get him some U23s games and stuff like that.
“Maxwel had a small calf strain. I hope he’s going to be okay and hopefully it will be the middle of next week that we get him out on the grass.”
In other news, Michail Antonio has been under the weather with a cold which has kept him out of training for the last day or two, so the Jamaican will be touch-and-go as to whether he features in tonight’s clash in east London.
Positivity is building
The latest update from Moyes is indicative of where the club are at in this current moment in time.
A win against Anderlecht on home turf would seal a fourth consecutive win in all competitions and would see the Hammers maintain their flawless run in Europe this season, along with booking their passage to the knockout rounds with two matches to spare.
Moyes has revived the Irons’ fortunes since the international break and will surely feel in a much better position than prior to the win over Wolves two weeks ago, when West Ham were languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.
Having had their fair share of injuries as well, it’s nice to see a couple of positive updates coming to fruition, with the Hammers in need of squad depth as they negotiate a condensed fixture period.
As a left-footed, ball-playing centre-back, Aguerd can create balance in possession from deep areas and bring a calmness which might enable the team to build sustained attacking plays from the back with ease. An unfortunate injury in pre-season has prevented him from exercising that quality in competitive action for his new club so far.
Meanwhile, fellow summer signing Cornet has a point to prove at the London Stadium as he seeks to put up a fight for his place on the wing, having seen his full Premier League debut for the Irons cut short by an injury against Wolves in just the 34th minute.
Tonight will come too soon for the duo, but it’s certainly welcome to hear that they seem to be nearing a return to action.
