Four West Ham United stars missing from photos of travelling squad for Backa Topola clash
Four star players were missing as West Ham shared photos of the travelling squad for the clash against Backa Topola, with Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen absent.
The Hammers have travelled to Serbia for the Europa League clash on 30 November, and it appears the four star men have been left in East London.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted their absence after the official club website provided pictures of the travelling squad both in training and on their way to Serbia.
As West Ham news source Sean Whetstone shared on Twitter [29 November]: “Hammers Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio have not featured in club photos and video travelling and training in Serbia ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League game against Backa Topola.”
Hopefully being rested
Hopefully, in the cases of Kudus, Alvarez and Bowen, the players are just being rested ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, with the relative strength of the Europa League opposition enabling David Moyes to change things up.
Both Kudus and Alvarez travelled further afar than other members of the squad during the international break to represent Ghana and Mexico respectively, which could explain why they were given a rest from further travelling here.
Bowen, meanwhile, is continuing his recovery from an injury picked up on international duty, and it has come as no surprise that he was left at home rather than travelling with the squad as Moyes hopes he will return to Premier League action at the weekend.
Even without the four key players, Moyes’ men will be expected to win against Backa Topola, to give them the best chance of progressing from the group stage of the Europa League, which has been their target since the tournament began.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are on red alert after a new transfer decision was made.