David Moyes reveals just Edson Alvarez ruled out for West Ham United v Backa Topola
David Moyes has revealed that Edson Alvarez is the only player ruled out for West Ham as they prepare to face Backa Topola on Thursday (21 September).
Speaking in a press conference on Wednesday (20 September) ahead of the game (via Roshane Thomas), the Hammers boss said the Mexican international will be missing after he picked up a red card for Ajax in the competition against Union Berlin in February.
But the Scot shared that everyone else is “fit and ready to play” against the Serbian side, with the 25-year-old midfielder the only absentee.
Opportunity
It will be disappointing for Moyes to not have Alvarez available as West Ham get their European campaign underway on Thursday night at the London Stadium.
But it’s something he will have known about for a while and, given that the midfielder was substituted off early in the defeat to Manchester City on Saturday (16 September), it will give him a chance to properly recover.
The Mexican was spotted training for the Hammers on Wednesday, so there shouldn’t be any issue about him playing in the game against Liverpool on Sunday (24 September) [Football Daily].
The game against Backa Topola will likely provide some of the fringe players with the opportunity to earn some much-needed minutes and to prove to Moyes that they deserve a place in the starting lineup.
It’s extremely important that we pick up a win against the Serbians as we look to have another successful campaign in Europe this season.
In other West Ham news, one player could be set to leave the club in January after transfer news has emerged.