Encouraging news for the Hammers as AZ Alkmaar will be without their left-back Milos Kerkez for their Europa Conference League semi-final first leg clash against West Ham United on Thursday night.
The 19-year-old Hungarian international has been a regular for AZ Alkmaar, playing in all 16 matches of their Europa Conference League run from the second qualification round to the semi-finals, starting 15 of them.
The teenager was booked in the second leg of their quarter final win over Anderlecht. We had something similar, if you remember, when Flynn Downes was suspended for the second leg win over the Cypriot side AEK Larnaca
UEFA’s competition laws state any player receiving three yellow cards between the start of the group stages and the end of the quarter-finals will be handed a one-match ban. Therefore, poor old Kerkez will be banned for the first leg against the Hammers at the London Stadium.
However, no players can receive suspensions for yellow cards in the competition’s semi-finals, only red cards.
Are you reading this Mr Cresswell?