David Moyes provides worrying West Ham injury update
West Ham United put in a much-improved performance against Liverpool on Monday night, battling valiantly, but ultimately in vain, to a 3-2 defeat.
The display came in stark contrast to the dirge they offered up at the Etihad Stadium last Wednesday.
One of the keys to much of what they did well at Anfield was the energetic effort produced by January signing Tomas Soucek.
The Czech Republic international, a loan recruit brought in from Slavia Prague, looked like the best player on the pitch for the Hammers during the first half.
Unfortunately for everyone of a claret and blue persuasion, he went down injured early into the second period and was substituted.
His replacement Pablo Fornals went on to score the Irons’ second goal, but that didn’t reduce the severity of the blow that Soucek’s setback represented.
Manager David Moyes’ update on the player’s problem after the game won’t have eased anyone’s mind either: “He picked up the injury just before half time and it meant that he was struggling,” he said, as per Football London.
“We knew at half time and I thought he had been fabulous as well. It is a big loss to us, especially in the second half as we didn’t have an awful lot where we could tighten things up, really.
“I am hoping he will be OK but it looks like a groin or adductor injury from over stretching in the first half. I’d loved to have said it was a precaution but it’s genuine. He even did well to get out for the second half.”
How frustrating is this for the Hammers?
It’s massively frustrating, because he was looking so good at Anfield. He got through so much work in little over 45 minutes – it was astonishing.
The 24-year-old made a tackle, two interceptions and seven clearances on the night, with only Issa Diop making more clearances out of the West Ham XI.
He was constantly hustling and harrying the Reds, winning back possession and unsettling the best team in the land.
It sounds like it’s a pretty serious problem, which is really unfortunate for him after the bright start he’s made to life in east London.
In other West Ham news, a report has revealed further details about Soucek’s unfortunate setback.