An apparent hamstring injury looks an absolute disaster for visibly distraught West Ham star Vladimir Coufal ahead of a huge fortnight.
West Ham’s valiant efforts in a third consecutive Premier League defeat seem to have come at a very hefty price.
A makeshift Hammers side without injured Kurt Zouma and ill trio Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Nayef Aguerd managed to make it to half-time at 0-0 against champions elect Man City.
But West Ham were uncharacteristically undone from a set-piece early in the second half.
Danny Ings then stupidly gave the ball away with his first touch to set City on the counter attack as Erling Haaland scored a second to break the Premier League record for the most goals in a season – 35 – and his 51st overall.
Season-defining spell looms large
Phil Foden then added a very harsh third with a deflected volley from outside the box.
West Ham welcome Man United to the London Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday.
AZ Alkmaar then come to town for the first leg of West Ham’s huge Europa Conference League semi-final next Thursday night.
Games against Brentford and relegation rivals Leeds then sandwich the European second leg in Holland.
The scale of the next two weeks for West Ham cannot be understated.
Hamstring injury looks an absolute disaster for visibly distraught West Ham star Vladimir Coufal ahead of huge fortnight
If you asked West Ham fans to list four or five players they simply cannot do without for the run-in, warrior right-back Vladimir Coufal would definitely be among them.
Especially since his resurgence since the turn of the year.
So a hamstring injury looks an absolute disaster for visibly distraught West Ham star Coufal ahead of a huge fortnight.
Coufal winced in pain as he put a cross in from the right. And West Ham’s Czech mate was seen feeling his hamstring for the next few minutes.
He looked in some discomfort before dropping to the deck with his hands on his face.
Hammers can ill afford to be missing key players such as Zouma and Coufal for crucial fortnight
David Moyes instantly sent the physios on as they carried out what appeared to be hamstring injury tests. Coufal was then substituted for Ben Johnson.
The worrying thing is Coufal looked devastated as he left the pitch. Like a man who knows he may well be set for a spell on the sidelines.
West Ham can ill afford to be without their experienced and in-form full-back for such a crucial period.
It really has put a dampener on what was an otherwise encouraging display all things considered. Particularly as Johnson has proved time and again he is not up to the required level.
West Ham fans and Moyes will be keeping everything crossed for some good news. With Zouma out for a “few weeks” according to the Scot, injuries to key players are coming at the worst possible time.