David Moyes expects Lukasz Fabianski to play v Southampton
West Ham boss David Moyes has stated that the injury to goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is not as bad as first thought and that he will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the Southampton game.
Fabianski, who has been one of the Hammers’ most reliable players in the past few years, suffered an injury in the warm-up for the West Brom game.
While the rest of the players were going through their training drills, he was undergoing treatment by the West Ham medical team on the pitch.
Darren Randolph was drafted in as a late replacement and the gulf in quality was apparent when he failed to deal with a relatively mundane cross which led to the Baggies taking the lead.
Moyes will want his number one back for what is a must-not-lose game when they face the Saints.
Even one point will give the Hammers Europa League football for next season, and Moyes is hoping Fabianski to be between the sticks.
He said in his pre-match press conference, via Football London, “I don’t know about Fabiabski, don’t think it is quite as bad at the time but it will be a last minute call on Sunday.”
We need him in goal
Southampton may not have had the best season, but the way they play ensures that they create chances aplenty.
In Danny Ings, they have one of the best strikers in the division when fit, and is likely to be a threat.
Fabianski’s presence in the goal cannot be understated. Time and again he’s made key saves that have bailed us out and he has also been a vocal presence marshalling our back line.
Randolph, on the other hand, has played three games this season and hasn’t really proven himself to be a reliable custodian.
It’s one of the reasons why we are looking for a goalkeeper next season, but for now, we need to hope Fabianski is fit in time.
It would be painful if the only reason we didn’t qualify for the Europa League was because our number one was injured.
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