Injury expert shares early West Ham United team news for European Conference League tie v AEK Larnaca
West Ham United could be boosted by the return of two players for their upcoming European Conference League encounter against AEK Larnaca on Thursday (16 March), according to injury expert Ben Dinnery.
Writing for the Premier Injuries website, Dinnery shared that Michail Antonio has a 50% status and a potential return date of 18 March after picking up a calf issue in the first leg of the European tie.
Vladimír Coufal, who has missed the last four matches with a heel issue, is noted as having a 25% status for the match against AEK Larnaca and is currently being assessed.
The one player who David Moyes is confirmed to be without is goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski after he sustained a face injury in the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
The Polish stopper is expected to return to action at the beginning of April and will remain sidelined throughout the upcoming international break.
Win expected
With West Ham’s match against Manchester City postponed this weekend, the clash against AEK Larnaca is the club’s last outing before the international break.
After the match at the London Stadium, Moyes’ side doesn’t take to the field until a Premier League relegation scrap against Southampton on 2 April.
Although Fabianski, Antonio and Coufal are all nursing injuries, this should be plenty of time for all three players to return to full fitness and help the club in their fight against relegation.
Despite Antonio netting a brace in the first leg of the last-16 encounter, it would be foolish to throw him into the match with the tie all but won. The Scottish manager can call upon Danny Ings to lead the line in his stead, while Gianluca Scamacca also remains an option despite his recent public struggles.
A comfortable win is expected for Moyes and his men against Larnaca – who have neither the players nor the financial wealth to expect European silverware – before they are awarded potentially season-defining fortnight work on tactical adjustments and prepare for the upcoming fight against relegation.