West Ham could receive a key double injury boost in today’s Premier League clash with Brighton.
Injury problems have been a frustrating theme for defender Kurt Zouma this season, with the centre-back playing just one match since November. That came in January against Everton, with a thigh issue keeping him out since.
Summer signing Maxwel Cornet, meanwhile, has been out of action since the start of October with a calf problem, but has now returned to training alongside Zouma. David Moyes gave an update on the pair, and also suggested he had some injury problems to deal with after the midweek FA Cup defeat by Manchester United.
“Kurt Zouma is doing better, Maxi is coming on, we’ll see how he is today,” Hammers boss Moyes told reporters on Friday. “We’ve picked up one or two injuries in the week and we’ll just have to see where they are.”
Both Zouma and Cornet are likely to be eased back into first-team action when fully fit again, while it remains to be seen which players picked up knocks at Old Trafford.
First-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is definitely out and facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after fracturing his cheekbone and eye socket against Nottingham Forest, so deputy Alphonse Areola will continue between the sticks.
Michail Antonio led the line in midweek but the cup-tied Danny Ings is expected to return to the side today after his brace against Forest, while Jarrod Bowen should come back in for Pablo Fornals after a knock.
Vladimir Coufal is a doubt with a heel injury, so there’s a good chance Ben Johnson continues at right-back.
Predicted West Ham XI (4-3-3): Areola; Johnson, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson; Rice, Soucek, Paqueta; Bowen, Ings, Benrahma.
