Karl Toko Ekambi fit to face West Ham for Lyon, Maxence Caqueret ruled out
West Ham host Lyon at the London Stadium this evening in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie with the visitors boosted by fitness news.
RMC Sport had previously claimed that joint-top scorer Karl Toko Ekambi would miss tonight’s clash while he was still recovering from COVID-19, which saw him absent from the weekend’s victory against Angers.
But according to manager Peter Bosz, via West Ham United’s official club website, the Cameroon international will be available for the game.
There is, however, one player who will miss out for the Ligue 1 side with Maxence Caqueret ruled out through a knee injury he sustained in training last week.
David Moyes meanwhile confirmed that Jarrod Bowen and Ben Johnson are both ready to start but the fitness of Vladimir Coufal was still on to be decided [West Ham website].
Keep him quiet
Toko Ekambi’s talents are there for everyone to see and he hasn’t just saved his good form for Lyon after bagging five goals during the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
The 29-year-old also has 13 goals to his name in club football for Lyon with six of those coming in just eight Europa League matches.
Whoever is selected to hold down the fort for the Hammers, presumably Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson again, will have to be very aware of the Cameroonian’s presence.
Not only can he hold the ball up when needed but he is also very sharp off the line and his quick movements can cause lesser defenders serious problems.
You would hope though with Zouma’s athletic ability that he won’t get too many chances to score but he might only need one and the Irons have to be on maximum concentration to prevent it from being a golden one.
In other West Ham news, Alphonse Areola, who is set to start tonight, has pinpointed two of Lyon’s players that the Irons need to keep an eye on.
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