Martin Tyler furious with Manchester United after West Ham defender Ryan Fredericks sustains injury
Martin Tyler was furious after West Ham defender Ryan Fredericks was forced off injured during the first half of their clash at Manchester United on Wednesday.
Fredericks, 28, was making his second start of the 2021/22 season during the League Cup tie at Old Trafford.
He claimed an assist for Manuel Lanzini’s opener in the ninth minute of the game but he was injured in the process after taking a trip down the sloping grass behind Dean Henderson’s goal.
Speaking during live commentary for Sky Sports, Tyler called on the authorities to take steps to avoid such a scenario in the future.
“I cannot understand why clubs are allowed, at this level of the game, to do that,” he said.
“We had a player, I think it was Rob Holding of Arsenal at this very ground, who was out for months and months with that kind of situation.
“Why have it? Why not grow grass inside the white lines. It’s led to a change here, Ryan Fredericks is the unlucky victim.”
Dangerous
It looked fairly innocuous as there was no malicious challenge from an opposition player while Fredericks did not immediately drop to the ground in agony, but after Lanzini slotted the opening goal of the game it quickly became clear that Fredericks was in some distress as the TV camera’s cut to his sheepish face.
He produced a barnstorming run to set up the Argentine’s goal, but it looks to have come at some cost.
After knocking the ball past Alex Telles, Fredericks drove to the byline and delivered, only for his momentum to see him continue running and down the slope.
Rather than a level surface all around the ground, the turf appears to get steeper to slow players from injuring themselves on the tarmac just before they reach the advertising boards.
However, it may have a dangerous effect on players, as Fredericks found out, and he had to be replaced by Vladimir Coufal in the 17th minute.
In other West Ham news, Andy Townsend & Adrian Durham clash over Declan Rice demand amid recent controversy against Manchester United.
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