Comments from David Moyes suggest West Ham are about to get a massive injury boost ahead of the crucial game against Wolves.
West Ham slipped down to sixth place in the Premier League table when Arsenal beat Wolves 2-1 in a catch-up game on Thursday night.
The Gunners leapfrogged West Ham but Wolves are just two points behind Moyes’s side with a game in hand.
West Ham know a win over Wolves could seriously reinvigorate their push for a European spot.
Conversely defeat would see Bruno Lage’s men go above the east Londoners.
A draw does neither West Ham nor Wolves any favours at this stage of the season.
West Ham will have to make do without right-back Vladimir Coufal for the game.
David Moyes comments suggest West Ham are about to get massive injury boost ahead of Wolves
But comments from Moyes in his pre-match press conference suggest West Ham are about to get a massive injury boost ahead of Wolves.
West Ham were without Argentine playmaker Manuel Lanzini for the disappointing 1-1 draw with Newcastle last time out.
Lanzini has been struggling with an Achilles problem of late. And he was sorely missed as West Ham struggled to create chances against the Magpies.
Now it seems West Ham will welcome Lanzini back for the Wolves clash if Moyes’s comments are anything to go by.
In the team and injury news section of the presser, Moyes confirmed Coufal would be out for a few weeks.
But he only listed long-term absentee Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku as players who will miss the Wolves game.
“We’re doing OK,” Moyes revealed in the press conference (whufc.com).
“Vlad Coufal had a hernia operation in the week and we will be without him for a few weeks. We think he’s had to struggle with it for quite a long time. If you look at all the games he’s had to be involved in, it can take its toll on the players and Vladimir is one who it has at the moment.
“Other than that, Angelo Ogbonna has an ACL and we are managing Arthur Masuaku’s knee injury.”
That should mean Lanzini is back. Although Ryan Fredericks is understood to be injured but Moyes did not mention him either.
Lanzini will be vital against Wolves who are a seriously tough nut to crack and boast one of the best defensive records in the Premier League.