West Ham United have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of their Europa Conference League trip to Silkeborg on Thursday night.
The Hammers will be looking to record their second successive European win after beating RSCB last week courtesy of goals from Emerson, Jarrod Bowen and Michael Antonio. After going a goal behind, it was important that David Moyes' side bounced back, but it may have come at a cost.
In the build-up to the Hammers' second goal, Maxwel Cornet has appeared to pick up an injury, leaving him a massive doubt for their game against the Danish side in midweek. The Ivorian won the penalty that led to the equalising goal against RSCB but in doing so was forced off through injury. He appeared to hobble off holding his thigh as Bowen scored the resulting penalty.
This could mean Cornet is forced to drop out of the starting XI after impressing at the London Stadium. According to football.london, the 25-year-old is a doubt for the Hammers' trip to Denmark. Cornet grabbed an assist in both of the Hammers' games against Viborg in the Conference League qualifiers and had made a promising start to life in east London.
Moyes praised Cornet after the first win over Viborg and admitted he was excited to track his progress. "I thought he done okay," he told football.london. "I didn’t like his contribution in the goal we lost. Again, we’ve got to give some people a little bit of time to settle.
"We need people with goals and assists so Maxi getting an assist last night was really important to us, Said (Benrahma) getting another assist last night. Players we’re bringing in, that’s what we’re getting them in for, to assist or score the goals.
"Last night, the ones who you would think are maybe our goalscorers have got all the goals last night which hopefully, gives them a bit more confidence. Said assisted in one, Maxwel assisted in one so I take positives in that last night."
West Ham have made a mixed start to the season, having won just one of their six Premier League matches so far. That came in a 1-0 win over struggling Aston Villa thanks to Pablo Fornals' second-half strike. They have picked up four points from a possible 18, with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham their other point.
The Hammers were scheduled to take on Newcastle last weekend but the game was postponed due to the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Their next Premier League match is expected to be a trip to Everton this weekend after they face Silkeborg in midweek.
