West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been handed a major boost after fearing he would lose one of his key players for a spell.
There is nothing worse than losing just before the international break.
West Ham are wallowing in that feeling right now having been beaten 3-1 at home by Man City on Saturday.
The Hammers were always going to be a work in progress under Julen Lopetegui.
But while starting the season with defeats in their first two Premier League home games is far from ideal, there have been glimpses of real promise from West Ham.
There is an argument to be had that the Hammers could – and perhaps should – have drawn both the losses to Villa and Man City.
West Ham left sweating on key star after injury
Their defending has not been up to scratch, though – by Lopetegui’s own admission – and that is the price on the ticket in the Premier League.
To make matters worse for West Ham, Lopetegui lost a key player midway through the Man City game.
Alphonse Areola is West Ham’s undisputed number one goalkeeper.
He showed why when he produced a stunning save to deny Kevin de Bruyne and keep the Hammers well in the game on Saturday.
But Areola failed to show for the second half.
And it turned out he had actually injured his back in the fall from that brilliant stop.
Speaking after the game, Lopetegui sounded concerned.
“He has one problem in his back, that’s why we changed,” the Hammers head coach told Sky Sports.
Lopetegui gets major West Ham boost over Areola
Given the delicate nature of the back – as most West Ham fans of a certain age will know – supporters were sweating on how long Areola might be out for.
Some fans were even asking whether the club would be allowed an emergency goalkeeper loan should anything happen to Lukasz Fabianski or Wes Foderingham in Areola’s absence given the transfer window slammed shut the night before.
Now Lopetegui has received a major West Ham boost after fearing he’d lost a key star.
Daily Mail reporter Kathryn Batte has been assigned to cover West Ham this season.
And she has revealed that Areola’s injury has been assessed and deemed ‘is ‘not serious’.
So much so that the giant ‘keeper is still meeting up with the France squad for Nations League fixtures against Italy and Belgium.
“Alphonse Areola has travelled to meet up with the France squad,” Batte revealed.
“Goalkeeper came off at half-time with a back problem during West Ham’s defeat by Man City on Saturday.
“But injury assessed as not serious.”
That really is fantastic news for Lopetegui and West Ham.
Areola is highly unlikely to actually play for France over the next two weeks.
That’s obviously not great for him personally but it is for West Ham as it means he won’t risk further injury.
If West Ham are to challenge for Europe this season they need all their key players fit and firing for as much of the season as possible.
The Hammers head to Areola’s old club Fulham after the international break where he will be needed to help get the season back on track.
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