Moyes reveals defensive Hammer blow

David Moyes has revealed that both Thilo Kehrer and Kurt Zouma are doubtful for this weekend’s clash with Southampton.

The Hammers beat Anderlecht 2-1 in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, but neither Kehrer or Zouma took any part in the game.

To add insult to injury, Craig Dawson was also replaced after taking a knock, having come on as a substitute himself.

That led to Declan Rice playing at centre-back and Moyes has now confirmed that both Kehrer and Zouma are doubtful for Sunday’s Premier League encounter.

The former is struggling with a knock, while the ex-Chelsea centre-back has been suffering with illness, much like Mikey Antonio.

Speaking after the game, Moyes sounded relatively upbeat on the prospect of Dawson recovering quickly but was less sure on the other two.

He told BT Sport, via Hammers News: “We’re a little bit short.

“You know Kurt is having a little bit of a cold as well and Thilo having a bit of a knock it meant that we were a little bit short so we put Declan to the back.

“We just think he’s (Ogbonna) had a tightening of his hamstring. He felt it a week ago when we were doing a bit of training. Hopefully it’s not too bad, he recovered very quickly from the one he felt a few days ago and again he’s somebody who’s returning from a serious injury, at 34 years old it’s not that easy to do. So we’re pleased with how he’s done but disappointed for him tonight.

“Daws had a bit of a dead leg anyway and I think he got another one right on it as well. So I’m hoping that he’s fine. We took him off as a precaution more than anything else.”

Nayef Aguerd is not available for selection yet either, and if both Kehrer and Zouma are out, it would leave Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna as the only options, even though the latter was also subbed last night.

 

About Dave Langton

A journalist with 10 years' experience of working on National newspapers, now chief reporter covering the club that I've loved since I was a boy. Upton Park remains the greatest football stadium ever built.