David Moyes has questioned the scheduling for West Ham United’s Premier League clash against Southampton in April as his side face three Premier League fixtures in just six days.
The Hammers are not in league action this weekend due to Manchester City’s involvement in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
After their Europa Conference League fixture with AEK Larnaca this Thursday evening, West Ham will not return to action until early April due to the March international break.
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That leaves them with 16 days to prepare for what will undoubtedly be a crucial fixture in the Premier League relegation battle. Saints are currently bottom of the table but they are just two points behind a Hammers side who at present occupy 17th.
They also have the opportunity to add further pressure on Moyes’ men when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s this Saturday, with fellow relegation rivals Bournemouth, Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Everton and Crystal Palace also in action over weekend.
It is likley West Ham will once again have to attempt to climb out of the relegation zone when they return in early April, where they will have seven Premier League games that month to try and distance themselves from the dreaded drop zone.
Should they book their place in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals this evening, West Ham will have a total of nine fixtures to play in four already action-packed weeks, starting with three in six days against Southampton, Newcastle United (both at home) and Fulham (away) respectively.
“It’s incredible the amount of games, I was actually looking at the schedule when we come back,” said Moyes. “We’ve actually got Southampton on the Sunday, then we have to play Newcastle on the Wednesday and then the Saturday.
“You wonder why couldn’t our [Southampton] game be Saturday? Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday? We accept that’s the way it is, but we’ve had to go to a Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, so we’ve got three games in six days.
“Nine games in a month, so they’re the bits where we’re getting everybody fit and ready and trying to get them some game time etc, it’s really important.”
There are those within the West Ham squad who could do with a top up in match fitness ahead of what will be a busy month.
Maxwel Cornet and Gianluca Scamacca have rarely featured recently. Cornet was out for five months with a calf injury but has come off the bench in West Ham’s last two games, whereas Italian striker Scamacca was absent for almost a month due to a knee issue and has played just four minutes in the last five matches.
Manuel Lanzini is another who could probably do with more game time. The Agrentinian has been a regular face in Conference League matches but he has played less than 150 minutes of Premier League football this season.
Moyes sees Larnaca as an opportunity for those in need of game time and confidence ahead of a hectic April ahead. “I actually do, I hopes that’s the case and hopefully for us, it might freshen a few of them up as well.
“When you’re in a position where you’re not quite doing so well, hopefully getting away for a bit can do some good. Let’s hope that they all come back in really good shape and are ready to go when we return.”
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