West Ham in line for double Europa League boost against Genk after Alex Kral blow as David Moyes delivers update

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West Ham United are in line for a double boost against Genk in the Europa League this week after the club’s Alex Kral blow.

The Hammers welcome the Belgians to the London Stadium on Thursday night for what is – on paper at least – the easiest of their Group H games.

The way Europa League fixtures work, West Ham actually face Genk twice in a row, home then away, in the competition.

And as reported by Hammers News, West Ham know two wins – having already won their opening two games – will see them all but confirmed as group winners and earn David Moyes’s side a place in the last 16.

West Ham will have to do it without Czech midfielder Kral, though.

The midfielder looked a sure bet to start the game and give compatriot Tomas Soucek a much deserved rest.

But he will miss the next two games after Moyes revealed the 23-year-old has tested positive for Covid despite being vaccinated.

That means Kral will sit out Genk and Spurs.

But there was some positive news for Moyes ahead of Thursday’s European clash.

West Ham in line for double Europa boost against Genk after Kral blow as Moyes delivers update

Firstly at least one of Ryan Fredericks or Vladimir Coufal looks set to return to the squad.

The former is most likely having been missing since picking up an injury in the Carabao Cup win at Manchester United last month.

It is unlikely Coufal will be risked after having an injection in his groin but he may be fit enough for a place on the bench.

And captain Mark Noble – who was missing from the squad for the win at Everton on Sunday – should also return for Genk (Football London).

“Mark Noble has a grumbly hip so we just felt that a grumbly hip wasn’t worth risking at the moment because of the amount of games we’ve got coming up so I’d expect Nobes with a bit of luck to be back in training maybe tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest,” Moyes said after the win at Goodison Park (Football London).

“Vladimir has taken an injection he had a bit of discomfort in his pubis. He has had an injection in there, he got the injury in the Man United cup game and he has been carrying it for a few weeks.”

Noble may come straight into the side in place of Soucek, who needs and deserves a rest – particularly as his face heals from being studded by Everton striker Salomon Rondon.

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