Journalist shares ‘dreadful’ West Ham United verdict after double injury blow v Bristol City
It is “dreadful timing” for West Ham to lose Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta to injury now, according to journalist Alex Keble.
The attacking duo both went off injured as the Hammers drew 1-1 with Bristol City in the FA Cup on Sunday (7 January).
The East London club are already without fellow attacker Mohammed Kudus, who is currently on international duty with Ghana.
“West Ham have won 10 points from their last four Premier League matches but their good form was halted by a damaging draw in the FA Cup third round against Bristol City,” Keble wrote for the official Premier League website.
“David Moyes has now lost his winter break – and possibly lost two of his best players to injury. Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta both hobbled off in the cup tie, which is dreadful timing given that Kudus joins up with Ghana for AFCON.”
Huge blows
Losing Kudus is, of course, a massive blow for Moyes and the Hammers, with the summer signing one of the players of the season so far.
He has immediately hit the ground running following his switch from Ajax, with the club flying high in all competitions thanks to Kudus’s efforts in the final third.
But they now have to compete without him for the coming weeks, with Moyes also perhaps to be without fellow stars Bowen and Paqueta.
The three players have been crucial to West Ham’s success in the Premier League and the Europa League in recent months.
Making matters worse is the fact the club drew with Bristol City, meaning a replay must be played on Tuesday (16 January).
Another match is the last thing that Moyes wants, especially given how many of the club’s Premier League rivals will be getting a break at this crucial stage of the season.
In other West Ham news, a Fulham update has emerged in a Hammers bid to sign a new defender.