West Ham star Craig Dawson may have just let the cat out of the bag over the Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen injury situation.
The Hammers are gearing up for their biggest game in decades when they entertain Sevilla in the second leg of their massive Europa League last 16 clash on Thursday night.
West Ham must overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Seville if they are to advance to the quarter-finals.
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David Moyes’s side warmed up for the big game with a deserved 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
But the match came at a cost with both Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell forced off through injury.
Everyone connected with West Ham will obviously be hugely concerned given the Hammers are also without star Jarrod Bowen right now.
Fans are desperately hoping Antonio and/or Bowen will somehow be available for the Sevilla clash.
It is more hope than expectation. And Moyes made it clear after the game he is keeping his cards close to his chest over the injuries as he wants to keep Sevilla guessing (whufc.com).
But West Ham star Craig Dawson may have just let the cat out of the bag over the Antonio and Bowen injury situation.
West Ham star Craig Dawson may have just let the cat out of the bag over Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen injuries
That’s after admitting on West Ham TV that the Hammers are going to have to rely on Andriy Yarmolenko for the ‘coming weeks’.
“It was a massive moment (when Yarmolenko scored),” Dawson told whufc.com.
“It just shows (how much everyone is behind him) with the atmosphere when he came on and when he scored. It’s great for him.
“It was emotional for him and emotional for everyone. It probably doesn’t change anything for him but it’s nice to see him get that goal.
“Everyone knows we haven’t got the biggest squad. Yarma is going to be very important for us in the coming weeks, so hopefully he comes on and does the same as he did today.”
Given Yarmolenko has rarely featured prior to his recent compassionate leave, Dawson’s comments suggest there will be no quick comeback for Antonio or Bowen. Certainly not in time for Thursday it seems.
We can but hope as we all await official news in the coming days.
Although based on Moyes’s comments that may not be until a couple of hours before kick-off against Sevilla.