Kurt Zouma could make return from injury in early 2022
West Ham defender Kurt Zouma could make his return from injury early in the new year, according to injury expert Ben Dinnery.
The French international was forced off in the 3-2 win over his former club Chelsea on Saturday (4 December) and the Hammers confirmed today (7 December) that he has suffered a hamstring tendon injury.
The club added that Zouma has already started his recovery programme, but did not give a timescale on how long this would take.
Replying to a supporter on Twitter, Dinnery suggested that the centre-back may only miss the next month of action.
“Realistic would be early 2022,” he said when asked for a possible return date. “Probably after the FA Cup, but still a few unknowns which make it impossible to give a definitive timeline.”
Better than feared
Although still disappointing that Zouma is out injured, this is better news than many had first feared on the length of the defender’s absence.
With Angelo Ogbonna already ruled out for the season due to an ACL injury, the thought of Zouma also being out for several months was a scary one.
Dinnery’s prediction of “after the FA Cup” suggests that the 27-year-old could be back in the week beginning 10 January, which is when the second leg of the League Cup semi-final would be if West Ham got there.
It means that Zouma would miss five Premier League matches, the final Europa League group game against Dinamo Zagreb (which he probably would have been rested for anyway), the FA Cup third round tie against Leeds, the League Cup quarter-final against Tottenham and the first leg of the semi-final if they got there.
The pressure will be on Craig Dawson and Issa Diop to step up and perform in those matches, while David Moyes will likely then dip into the transfer market for a new centre-back in January.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers should sign this striker who has been made available to loan.
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