Nayef Aguerd spotted at West Ham United training after Arsenal absence
Nayef Aguerd has been snapped taking part in West Ham United training ahead of the Hammers’ Europea Conference League clash against Gent.
The Moroccan defender missed the 2-2 draw against Arsenal with a knock but is now primed to return to the squad for the quarter-final on Thursday (20 April).
Football London’s Jonty Colman shared the photo of the 27-year-old defender making his way out onto the Hammers’ training field at Rush Green on Wednesday.
“Nayef Aguerd trains after missing draw with Arsenal,” he wrote (via Twitter, 19 April).
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Considering how well Thilo Kehrer and Kurt Zouma performed for large parts of the draw against the Gunners, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the duo continue at the heart of the defence. Furthermore, after West Ham’s awful defeat to Newcastle, it was probably good for Aguerd to have a game or two out of the firing line.
He was at fault against the Magpies and it’s important for Moyes to ensure the 27-year-old’s confidence is still relatively high.
The match against Gent on Thursday (20 April) seems like a defining one. The Conference League is the Hammers’ last opportunity for some silverware and to book themselves a Europa League berth for the 2023/24 campaign.
If West Ham can win the competition and stay up, then it would rescue the season, regardless of the bad feeling surrounding the London Stadium for the duration of the campaign.
Moyes’ future also hangs by a threat and the Conference League could have a dramatic outcome on the Scot’s future at the club.