Hammers Ryan Fredericks, Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop are all missing from tonight’s FA Cup squad.
Fredericks continues to self isolate after coming into contact with someone who tested positive although he is not known whether he has tested positive himself.
Fabian Balbuena is also self-isolating like Fredericks after he is thought to have come into contact with someone who tested positive .
Issa Diop travelled to Stockport with the first-team squad yet was not chosen for the match squad, the same thing happened for Leeds away.
This would have been the ideal game to start if he was fit but we are told he is suffering from an injury which prevented him from competing.
Diop has only played two games since contracting COVID himself playing 117 minutes leading to speculation by supporters whether he is suffering from a type of long COVID.
Maybe David Moyes will clear things up in his post-match press conference
Can anyone explain the absence of Antonio tonight? We so need a proper centre forward.
I fully expected him to dominate/bully their defence ,but for the main, he was invisible and his first touch was terrible.
It’s a shame Odubeku wasn’t brought on earlier to blood him.
Yarmolenko was also a waste of space tonight, these thoroughbreds don’t like the wind and rainy muddy pitches
Agreed Eastendexile .. It was as if Antonio had been told to remain within the width of the goalposts or at best the 6 yard box .. He just stood there with his back to goal when the only gaps were if he peeled off a bit into the inside right area to use his strength to force a shot or try to get to the bye line .. I know he’s not fully fit, but it was unlike him and almost like he was told just to be there occupying space .. Strange tactic that didn’t work ..