West Ham United goalkeeper has had an eye operation this week after suffering a horror injury during last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
The 37-year-old Polish stopper, who has started all 24 of the Hammers’ Premier League games this season, was forced off midway through the second half at the London Stadium six days ago after being kneed in the face by Forest centre-back Felipe, leading to him suffering a fractured cheekbone and eye-socket.
As a result of that, Fabianski has had to have a plate inserted into his eye in an operation which took place on Thursday.
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Despite the grim nature of the injury, Moyes is hopeful that Fabianski could be back in contention to feature in around a month’s time, when West Ham return to action from the international break taking place later this month.
“My belief is he had an operation this week,” said Moyes. “He had a plate inserted in his eye I believe. I think he had it on Thursday. We think it would be after the international break before he would be available again.”
With Fabianski ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, French goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is set for his first league start of the season and only his second in a West Ham shirt, with his other coming during a 1-0 defeat away at Manchester United in January 2022, while on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
On Wednesday night, Areola started in the FA Cup defeat to United at Old Trafford and made some good saves before conceding three goals in the final 13 minutes of the 3-1 defeat.
Moyes has said that he rates Areola highly, despite his lack of league minutes, adding that Fabianski’s injury did not concern him too much because of having the Frenchman as his alternative option.
“He had a brilliant save early in the game at Old Trafford,” Moyes added. “We really like him. He has so many good qualities.
“We like him a lot. It has only been because Fabianski has been so consistent and shown his experience and is reliable to keep Alphonse out of the team. We know behind the scenes we have a really good keeper in Alphonse. He is chomping at the bit to get in the team.
“We did tell him when we signed him that we see him as the one who would take over from Lukasz at his age. You have to look at it differently and say the praise needs to go to how well Fabianski has played and how consistent he has been.”
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