The international break regularly creates headaches for club managers who have to watch on anxiously as their prized assets embark on a hectic schedule before returning, battered, bruised and jet-lagged, to be patched up and repaired by their domestic employers ahead of yet more gruelling club fixtures.
The fear of a player suffering a major injury whilst on international duty is never far from the surface.
West Ham, now getting acclimatised to life in the second tier, don’t have the same number of call-ups over which to fret since half the international element departed in the summer following relegation: Long gone are the days of Lucas Paquetá‘s transatlantic commutes and jet lagged, late returns or Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s AWOL jaunts.
With four games timetabled in this Autumn break within a condensed ten day period and still eight West Ham players called up by their nations, there’s plenty to occupy Nuno’s thoughts.
After an injury scare last time out, West Ham’s Dinos Mavropanos was a doubt for tonight’s Nations League clash against Germany.
The West Ham defender went down late-on in his side’s 2-1 victory against Serbia last week and needed to leave the pitch for treatment, sparking concerns amongst Hammers fans knowing only too well how thin the Irons’ centre back resources are.
Mavropanos has been outstanding for West Ham and any injury scare would be concerning.
However, the Greece side for the Germany clash has just been published and Dinos Mavropanos is fit and starting: Good news that whatever injury he suffered hasn’t prevented his participation, but at the same time, with two more fixtures ahead next week there’s likely to consternation over the sheer numbers of minutes the central defender could be required to play.
A nice ‘little knock’ that could have kept him out for one game could have been just what the (Hammers) doctor ordered.
Sadly for West Ham, Mavropanos is on duty again. Fingers crossed for the Greek that he doesn’t take another one full in the face tonight.
Greece beat Germany and Mavropanos was excellent (as often when he plays for his country).