David Moyes has made a shock announcement about West Ham star Michail Antonio on the eve of Freiburg and it can mean only one thing.
West Ham are in Germany ready to face Bundesliga side Freiburg in their second Europa League group game on Thursday evening.
We reported on confirmation from the club earlier that Aaron Cresswell would miss the game through injury.
And it appears he is not alone.
Old school David Moyes usually keeps West Ham team news a closely guarded secret in press conferences.
But sometimes the Hammers boss springs a surprise. And he’s certainly done that less than 24 hours out from what will be West Ham’s toughest match of the group stages.
Moyes has made a shock announcement about West Ham star Michail Antonio on the eve of Freiburg and it can mean only one thing.
Antonio looked to be carrying a knock when he was substituted in the win over Sheffield United at the weekend.
And it seems it is serious enough to have ruled him out of West Ham’s match in Germany.
Moyes has revealed Antonio has been left at home for the trip after feeling pain in his adductor muscle.
“Mick hasn’t travelled, as he has an injury,” Moyes said as reported on the club’s official website.
“As I said at the weekend, he had some tightness in his adductor, so we don’t want to take any risks with him.
“We don’t know yet if he will be ready for the weekend, we just have to try and get him through a few days training if possible and see how he is in his recovery.”
Antonio’s absence can mean only one thing – that Moyes will play Jarrod Bowen up front.
The Scot has said on several occasions he did not sign a striker in the summer as he sees Bowen playing up top more often this season.
As West Ham’s top scorer, Bowen has justified that. And whenever he plays centrally Bowen is a real goal threat with his pace, movement and finishing.
That will likely see Mohammed Kudus take Bowen’s place on the right.
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