West Ham United: Crystal Palace duo Matheus Franca and Cheick Doucoure ruled out for season
Crystal Palace duo Matheus Franca and Cheick Doucoure have been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering injury blows in a boost for West Ham.
This was confirmed by Palace boss Oliver Glasner [via Edmund Brack on X], who shared that Franca had surgery on a groin injury which has extended his possible return.
Doucoure, meanwhile, has been missing for the Eagles since their defeat to Luton at Kenilworth Road, with Glasner putting an end to any hope he could return before the season closed.
Crystal Palace injury issues stack up ahead of West Ham clash
Franca had been a bit-part player under Roy Hodgson, but Glasner’s first game – a 3-0 win against Burnley at Selhurst Park – saw the Brazilian pick up an assist and win a penalty as he finally started to show what he could do.
His injury sustained in that 3-0 victory was expected to keep him out for a short period as Glasner played down how serious the blow was during his press conference at the time.
A key period for the Eagles, looking to pull themselves away from the relegation battle ahead of a run of more winnable games, including the clash with the Hammers was pencilled in by fans as a possible return date.
It will be a boost to everybody at West Ham that some key players for the Eagles will not be returning ahead of the clash at Selhurst Park, with the likes of Jefferson Lerma and Marc Guehi also ruled out, while the Hammers have had injury issues of their own.
Moyes confirmed that Jarrod Bowen, Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos will face late fitness checks ahead of the clash despite Bowen playing from the start in the Europa League draw with Bayer Leverkusen.
In other West Ham news, Moyes has been alerted to the latest transfer update.
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