CandH Exclusive by Hughie Southon

West Ham’s medical staff are confident that Nayef Aguerd will be available for the first game of the season against Manchester City.

The £30 million signing pulled out of the last friendly against Glasgow Rangers when injuring his ankle and there have been rumours since that he could even be out for as long as two months.

But CandH has learned this afternoon that the club medics believe there is no serious damage and are reasonably certain that the central defender will be available for what could be his toughest 90 minutes of the season against Erling Haaland.

His match fitness of course could be in question after having only appeared in a couple of pre-season games which could mean either Issa Diop of Craig Dawson could be involved alongside Kurt Zouma.

Meanwhile the Hammers will play their penultimate game of the summer against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road tomorrow – a game which has a 3pm kick off.