Report details timeframe on Masuaku injury recovery
West Ham have been handed a big boost with Arthur Masuaku expected to return to action in March following his long injury lay-off.
That is according to a club insider at Claret & Hugh who say that the DR Congo international could be back within three weeks with the 27-year-old currently undergoing gym work to build up his fitness.
Masuaku has not played for the Irons since completing 90 minutes in a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United on December 5.
That means he has missed the last 15 games and with further February fixtures to come against Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, this figure will continue to rise.
West Ham play Leeds United on March 6 before the reverse Premier League meeting with Manchester United at Old Trafford a week later and these look like being more realistic dates for Masuaku’s return to the squad.
After a double defensive injury blow on Tuesday this will be some positive news for David Moyes as he targets a strong end to the season.
Bench boost?
While his imminent return is great news for Moyes as he prepares to lead West Ham into their final 15 games of the season it remains to be seen whether Masuaku will actually feature much before the campaign’s conclusion.
Before his injury Masuaku was a fixture in the starting XI as Moyes’ marauding left wing-back in a 5-2-3 formation where Aaron Cresswell was tucked in as the left centre-back of a three.
In his absence Moyes has reverted back to his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation to stunning success.
Since the 3-1 defeat to Manchester United on December 5 the Irons have lost just twice in 12 Premier League games to put themselves in serious European contention.
We currently sit sixth in the division and are level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea, while Liverpool who occupy the final Champions League spot are just one point ahead.
Unless things go pear-shaped from now until Masuaku’s return we cannot see how Moyes can change tact and move away from the current set-up, but he could offer an important option from the bench with his pace and trickery particularly if the side are holding onto a lead late in the match.
In other West Ham news, Irons eye summer swoop for Championship hot-shot.