Kurt Zouma faces late fitness test for West Ham United ahead of Brentford clash – BBC Sport
West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma will face a late fitness test ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brentford, according to BBC Sport.
The Hammers will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League after two successive league defeats to Aston Villa and Everton when they travel to the Gtech Community Stadium on 4 November.
Zouma was omitted from the squad for their Carabao Cup 3-1 win over Arsenal at the London Stadium on Wednesday (1 November) after Moyes admitted he wasn’t fit for the game but faces a late fitness test for Saturday.
Zouma desperately needed
It would be an almighty blow if West Ham United were to lose Zouma for Saturday’s crucial clash in West London.
The Frenchman has proven one of the best performers at the club for a long while, but has seen his form dip in recent weeks.
However, that doesn’t take away from the leadership and presence he offers when he’s on the pitch and the Irons’ chances of securing their first league win since Sheffield United on 30 September could considerably dip if Zouma isn’t there.
Nayef Aguerd has been incredibly poor this season but certainly stepped against Arsenal in midweek, whilst Konstantinos Mavropanos is still being eased into action by Moyes.
Meanwhile, Angelo Ogbonna seems to be completely done at this level and Thilo Kehrer is far from reliable which certainly means that they simply cannot afford to lose Zouma right now.
However, the Hammers can take encouragement from the fact the Frenchman hasn’t played two games in a week in a long time, with Moyes making the intentional decision to rest him for Premier League action.
That may well be the case again here, despite his comments before the Arsenal win. They need him.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have already moved to secure a new midfield transfer.