West Ham United boss David Moyes has been hit with a major double injury blow ahead of the busy festive schedule.
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West Ham have made their best start to a season for five years and are sixth in the Premier League.
The Hammers have been relatively lucky with injuries so far this season.
But Moyes has been dealt a major double blow with the news that Michail Antonio could be out until January while Arthur Masuaku could be out until March.
Antonio and Masuaku face extended spells out claims insider
Antonio was rushed back from his latest hamstring injury for the game against Aston Villa.
He pulled up again with a new injury but was expected to return for the Chelsea game next Monday night.
According to reliable insider ExWHUemployee, though, Antonio looks set to be sidelined until January.
Masuaku, who underwent a knee operation last week, is now expected to be out for three months.
“Following further exploration of Arthur Masuaku’s injury it is felt that he could be out for up to three months,” ExWHUemployee said.
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“This is the verdict that David Moyes has been sharing although he has also been keen to stress that he ‘isn’t a doctor’!
“Antonio was targeting a return for the Chelsea game but it appears that he is likely to miss his own deadline and a January return is much more likely.
“Sorry for the depressing update.”
Worryingly for West Ham Moyes also revealed in his pre-match press conference for Crystal Palace that other players are carrying knocks and could be doubtful for Wednesday night’s game.
The Scot was keen to play the injury situation down. But Hammers fans will be worried given the huge promise the team has been showing this season.
“I’ve got a couple of boys who have got knocks and niggles, which we’re having to consider, but I think if you get to the middle of December and you’ve not got knocks and niggles, there’s something up with you,” Moyes told whufc.com.
“I think that’s part of the game now. You get to this time of the season, where we’re not quite halfway through, but it feels like halfway through in a normal calendar year, and I think a lot of the clubs will be having players who are missing some games at different times.
‘We’ve got a couple who might struggle a bit’
“It’s nothing really desperate. Like every other club, we’ve got a couple who might be struggling a little bit, but in the main hopefully everybody will be okay.”
It is unclear who the other players are that may be missing with knocks for West Ham against Palace.
But it looks like West Ham’s squad is set to be tested over the next month or so.
And it will focus a few minds ahead of the January window.
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