West Ham United ace Vladimir Coufal explains injury after specialist visit
West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal has explained he missed the Czech Republic’s clash with Hungary during the international break in September to avoid any risk of aggravating a back injury.
The Czech international shared he had visited a back injury specialist who determined that there was no need for injections or surgery but gave tips on how to aid his recovery, which he now says is going well.
Coufal has remained playing for the Hammers during this period, with concerns over the injury clearly not preventing him from game time, but the need to ease the workload has been apparent with his absence from internationals.
Speaking to Czech news outlet Pardubicky Denik on 3 October, Coufal shared: “It [his absence from international duty] was more for preventive reasons. I asked West Ham for it and got in touch with people from the national team.
“I was also in favour of doing it this way. The friendly match against Hungary was not vital for me to risk aggravating the injury. Therefore, right after Albania, I flew to a meeting with a spine and back specialist who operated on, for example, the golfer Tiger Woods.
“He figured that there was no need for any injections or the like yet. He gave me tips on what to do. I already got better at the national team meeting because the physiotherapists took perfect care of me.
“And the improvement has continued recently.”
Precautionary measures
It is important for both the club and the player to be aware of when precautionary measures are needed to avoid injury issues, with back injuries in particular difficult to deal with.
After a specialist ruled there was little cause for concern, Coufal has been able to continue at the London Stadium, and he claims his recovery is continuing to progress. There will, of course, be worries about the potential of making things worse, but if the club were truly concerned they wouldn’t risk it.
The defender has continued his impressive performances at the back for David Moyes’ side and was rested for the Europa League and Carabao Cup games against Backa Topola and Lincoln City respectively.
His three Premier League assists from seven games so far this season prove how influential he has been, with this West Ham side on a high after impressive displays as they look to remain competitive in every competition they feature in this season.
In other West Ham news, the club are desperate to avoid a Declan Rice-type situation with their star player.