West Ham ace Alphonse Areola faces France snub
West Ham ace Alphonse Areola faces France snub
Injury Hub

Alphonse Areola injury update emerges at West Ham United ahead of international break

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has travelled to meet up with the France squad in the international break despite sustaining an injury against Manchester City, according to Kathryn Batte.

The Daily Mail journalist reported via her personal X account [2 September] that the 31-year-old's injury has been assessed as not serious, travelling with the French squad to face Italy and Belgium.

Julen Lopetegui confirmed via BBC Sport after the 3-1 defeat to City on Saturday (31 August) that Areola was substituted at half-time due to an injury, but the shot-stopper looks to have recovered quickly.

Alphonse Areola returns from injury at West Ham United

Fans would have collectively held their breath after Lukasz Fabianski came through the tunnel ahead of the second half against the current Premier League champions.

Fears would have worsened after Lopetegui confirmed the injury news to his first-choice goalkeeper, but fans can now relax as the shot-stopper travels with the France team for the international break.

The Frenchman was in fine form against Erling Haaland, even despite conceding twice in the first half, making several acrobatic saves to keep the scoreline down before being substituted.

While it is unlikely that Areola remaining on the pitch would have changed the result of the game, the change would have certainly affected the centre-backs ahead of Fabianski, who is not on the same level as him.

Lopetegui's main concern now will be Areola returning to the London Stadium unharmed, ready to face Fulham after the international break.

Given he won his last international cap in 2018, he should be fine.

In other West Ham news, the Hammers were devastated by a "perfect" moment in the defeat to Manchester City.

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