David Moyes provided an update on the fitness of Beto and Jarrad Branthwaite ahead of West Ham United’s London Stadium clash against Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Nuno Espirito Santo has the luxury of a fully fit squad this weekend.
The same cannot be said of his opposite number, returning to the club where he enjoyed one of his greatest triumphs in the 2023 Europa Conference League.
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David Moyes, who had two spells at the helm of West Ham United from 2017 to 2024, returns to the London Stadium without his top scorer and his most influential defender.
Beto and Jarrad Branthwaite ruled out as Everton travel to West Ham United
Beto and Jarrad Branthwaite were both forced off during the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool last time out. Despite claims to the contrary, Moyes confirms that Beto – who scored the equaliser before Virgil van Dijk’s 100th minute winner – suffered a concussion in the Merseyside derby.
The luckless Branthwaite is out with a season-ending hamstring injury, meanwhile. So Michael Keane, who signed a one-year contract extension on Thursday, is likely to partner James Tarkowski at centre-half.
“Beto has a concussion and will miss this week’s game,” Moyes said during his press conference on Friday.
“Obviously, Jarrad will be out for the season. There should be plenty of time for him to get fit and ready to start next season, but he won’t play again this season. The only [new injuries] at the moment are Jarrod and Beto.”
What changes would you make to this team? Feel free to tell me how wrong I’ve got it 😂
Toffees without top scorer against an in-form Hammers defence
Jack Grealish is the other absentee. The Manchester City loanee saw his Merseyside revival come to a premature conclusion in February and may never wear the Everton blue again.
Thierno Barry is the leading candidate to replace Beto. While the latter is one of the division’s most in-form forwards – four goals and an assist in his last three matches – Barry is on a miserable run of one goal in ten Premier League games.
He came in for a lot of stick, both regarding his finishing and his attitude, off the bench against Liverpool.
West Ham have five clean sheets in nine. And the visit of an Everton side shorn of the imposing if inconsistent Beto – a side comfortable in mid-table albeit with lingering European ambitions – feels like an opportunity the Hammers cannot miss as relegation rivals Tottenham travel to doomed Wolves.
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