West Ham United: David Moyes shares Edson Alvarez injury update after Freiburg clash
David Moyes has explained why Edson Alvarez was substituted so early in the second half of West Ham United’s win over Freiburg, admitting the midfielder had picked up a dead leg.
The Hammers secured their place at the top of their Europa League group with an excellent 2-0 win on Thursday (14 December) with goals either side of halftime from Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez giving the Irons three points.
Despite being involved in both goals, the 26-year-old left the field after only 54 minutes of action, with Moyes admitting it had been planned because of illness, but the midfielder was also struggling with an injury at half-time.
Speaking on TNT Sports (14 December, 10:18) he said: “Look, he’s had a bit of illness and he’s just not quite on it fully so we were always going to take him off.
“But he also got a dead leg tonight so we’ll need to see how that is, that was a problem at halftime, but he thought he wanted to give it a go. He scored a really good goal, a well-worked goal, a really good combination of him and Jarrod and we got a good finish.”
At his best
That was arguably the best display West Ham supporters have seen from Alvarez in a claret and blue shirt since he arrived at the London Stadium this summer as the Mexican international ran the show from the base of the Irons midfield.
Nearly everything the Mexican touched helped the Hammers and Thursday night’s display demonstrated why they were so keen to sign him to replace Declan Rice. The only downside for Irons fans is that he could now be a doubt for the clash with Wolves on Sunday (17 December).
Moyes didn’t seem too concerned by the 26-year-old’s dead leg but did admit that West Ham would have to check on Alvarez’s condition ahead of the clash with Gary O’Neil’s side at the London Stadium, so there is a chance he may well be ruled out.
It would be an immense shame if the Mexican international can’t follow up his incredible display against Freiburg in the Premier League on Sunday and it would be a huge blow for the Irons as they aim to bounce back from their 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Fulham.
Hopefully, it was all just a matter of precaution and he’ll be fit and ready in plenty of time for Sunday.
In other West Ham news, Thilo Kehrer is being targeted as part of a “sensational” double transfer swoop this January