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Football London
Football London
Sport
Kadeem Simmonds

David Moyes makes fixture congestion admission with Ben Johnson a doubt for Spurs and Chelsea

Ben Johnson is a doubt for Wednesday night's London derby against Tottenham after David Moyes confirmed the defender felt a tightness in his hamstring.

The 22-year-old right-back has had a busy start to the 2022/23 campaign after injuries at the back forced Johnson to deputise at centre-back in five of the club's opening six fixtures.

However, the England defender was forced off with an injury 23 minutes into Sunday's 1-0 win over Aston Villa, the Hammers' first league win of the season.

READ MORE: Thilo Kehrer delivers West Ham London derby admission ahead of Tottenham and Chelsea fixtures

With games coming thick and fast over the next few weeks, David Moyes' side face Spurs and Chelsea on Wednesday and Saturday respectively, the Scot believes that the lack of recovery time in between fixtures is leading to players pushing their bodies to the limit and picking up muscle injuries.

"He just felt a tightness in his hamstring," said Moyes. "Then again, you look at that, and Cressy [Aaron Cresswell] was feeling his groin at the end of the game. It's obviously because you are playing so quickly. You are pushing them back out again Thursdays, Sundays, it is difficult.

"But, we are embracing it and I know I am sort of having a slight gripe at it but I think I am just trying to put in context where the players might be after a game on a Thursday night."

Vladimir Coufal replaced Johnson on Sunday, with Angelo Ogbonna nearing full fitness but Craig Dawson is still out injured.

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