David Moyes delivers huge double West Ham injury boost after worrying absence of key stars Alphonse Areola and Michail Antonio

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David Moyes has delivered a huge double West Ham injury boost after the worrying absence of key stars Alphonse Areola and Michail Antonio.

Life is pretty rosy in West Ham’s garden right now.

Unbeaten in six, five of them wins, West Ham are three points off a Champions League spot, through to knockout European football again and into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

All while suffering very few injuries to key Hammers players – unlike so many of their rivals.

So there was understandable concern at Spurs when West Ham’s number one Alphonse Areola was nowhere to be seen.

Moyes delivers huge double West Ham injury boost

Especially with another key player – striker Michail Antonio – also out with a knee injury sustained on international duty.

We reported claims from Clive Tyldesley that Areola had suffered a ‘minor’ wrist injury.

Hammers boss David Moyes appeared to concur but also said it ‘may be a ligament’.

Any wrist injury to a goalkeeper will be cause for concern.

Especially with the risk to do more damage if the joint is not at full strength.

Fears allayed over worrying absence

West Ham head to Areola’s old club Fulham on Sunday looking to maintain their impressive form.

And most had expected Lukasz Fabianski – excellent at Spurs – to deputise with untested youngster Joseph Anang on the bench.

Now Moyes has delivered a huge double West Ham injury boost after the worrying absence of key stars Areola and Antonio.

The Scot says not only is Areola in contention to return at Fulham – but Antonio is back running at Rush Green too.

A boost at both ends for Moyes

“I don’t think it’s that bad (Areola’s injury),” Moyes said in his pre-match presser.

“He may be available for Sunday, he could be.”

Moyes went on to confirm striker Antonio remains sidelined but has returned to running.

That in itself is a big boost given initial reports said he could miss three months.

Areola’s potential return is huge for West Ham, though. Because beyond Fabianski the Hammers simply don’t have experience, proven back-up.

Most Premier League clubs have three senior goalkeepers with a veteran as third choice.

But since the departures of David Martin and Darren Randolph West Ham have elected to elevate Anang to third choice.

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