AFCON – it could be a lot worse for the Hammers

AFCON – it could be a lot worse for the Hammers.

Our major problem is going to be the loss of the brilliant Mo Kudus and central defender Nayef Aguerd for Ghana and Morocco respectively. It’s unanimous among fans and the manager that Kudus  – along with Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen – has brought an entirely different perspective to the Hammers team and Aguerd has now grown into a very decent Premier League defender.

AFCON – it could be a lot worse for the Hammers

Said Benrahma may or may not be called up by Algeria given his awful form this season and having fallen out with the manager in a big way  during the last international break. But as things stand he is not going to be any sort of answer for the Hammers during Kudus’ absence should he still be available.

The competition runs from January 13 until February 11 which will take in Hammers games at Sheffield United on the 21st, Bournemouth at home on February 1, Manchester United away on the 4th of February and Arsenal away on the 11th. Should either or both Ghana and Morocco go all the way it may be that they could miss the Forest game at the City Ground on the 17th.

Beyond the Arsenal game the fixtures could be a lot worse for as we saw on Saturday that Man U are a poor side this season whilst Sheffield United and Bournemouth are certainly teams from whom we can take points.

So overall things really may not wok out too badly for Hammers although the risk of injuries is always a concern of course.