Alex Kral missed Everton game due to positive Covid test
Alex Kral missed the 1-0 West Ham win over Everton after testing positive for Covid-19, confirms David Moyes.
The summer signing was out on international duty with the Czech Republic and tested positive after coming back on Thursday.
Moyes stated he was surprised that Kral tested positive as he’s already been vaccinated.
After the Everton game, he said, via Football London, “Alex Kral tested positive [for Covid-19] but has been injected [with the vaccine]. So it was a strange one for us that he tested positive on Thursday.
“Mark Noble has a grumbly hip so we just felt that a grumbly hip wasn’t worth risking at the moment because of the number of games we’ve got coming up so I’d expect Nobes with a bit of luck to be back in training maybe tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest.”
Massive loss
Given Tomas Soucek’s injury against Everton, Moyes may feel it’s best to rest him for the Europa League clash.
This would usually mean that Kral would come in and take his place. Moyes is a fan of the Czech Republic international, including him in his “magnificent seven” list ahead of Euro 2020.
However, given the fact that he’s tested positive on Thursday, he will not be allowed to play for at least a week.
Noble, who is the other midfielder on the bench, is yet to retain to training, but given the absentees would be forced to start that game.
Thankfully, the Hammers are in a good position in their Europa League group, otherwise, the Genk fixture would’ve almost become like a must win game for them.
West Ham play host to Spurs next Sunday and Soucek should be back for that one, but it’s unlikely Kral will be in the matchday squad then.
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