Today is D-day for West Ham United boss David Moyes over Michail Antonio’s injury status.
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Antonio has struggled with discomfort in his injury-prone hamstrings in the last two games.
He was substituted against both Tottenham and Manchester City.
Moyes admitted he is hopeful Antonio is simply feeling cramp but the Scot is also concerned.
Moyes hopeful but concerned ahead of Antonio scan
Speaking after the dogged 1-1 draw with Manchester City – in which Antonio scored another superb goal – Moyes told whufc.com Antonio will be assessed and possibly rested.
“We had to bring him off against Spurs with something a wee bit the same,” Moyes told whufc.com.
“He’s just feeling something a little bit in his hamstring. We think he feels it’s just cramping so it’s not serious, but we’re not too sure.
“Obviously, it’s worrying me that it’s two games in a row that he’s felt it. He’s really important to us so we’re going to have to do the right thing and try and look after him when we can and it might be the odd time we’re not able to use him.”
The man who makes West Ham tick
Antonio is set for a scan today to assess if there is any damage to his hamstring.
So important is he to the effectiveness of West Ham’s play – and new formation – that everyone connected with West Ham will be keeping their fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
But regardless, as he hinted himself, Moyes may face little choice but to rest the striker for the trip to Liverpool at the weekend.
With only Sebastien Haller as back-up, West Ham’s hopes of building on a hugely positive start to the season could rest on knowing when to take Antonio out of the firing line.
The trouble for Moyes is that Haller is so different to Antonio, both in terms of style and workrate, that it is far from like-for-like.
Rest will cast spotlight on Haller
Haller divides opinion among West Ham fans. Some feel he simply does not work hard enough. Others feel he does not get the service.
The truth is probably somewhere in between. After all if Harry Kane is selfless enough to run channels, close full-backs, drop deep and do the ugly side of the game then why is it too much to expect Haller to do the same when needed?
If Moyes does rest Antonio at Anfield, he must start finding a way to get the best out of Haller.
And that may mean tinkering or tweaking West Ham’s wing-back formation to afford the Frenchman more support.
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