West Ham United team news v Freiburg shared in Sky Sports update from Rush Green
Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill has confirmed that West Ham pair Edson Alvarez and Emerson have recovered from illness in time to feature against Freiburg in the Europa League.
Alvarez dropped out of the West Ham squad for Sunday’s (10 December) 5-0 loss at Fulham after being struck down by the flu, while Emerson was only fit enough for the substitutes’ bench.
It was later reported by David Ornstein that Pablo Fornals and David Moyes were also feeling under the weather, but the sickness bug has now cleared and United therefore only have injury issues to worry about.
“We’ve had it confirmed that there was a flu bug in the camp towards the end of last week that did effect a few of the players, including Alvarez, Fornals and Emerson,” Cotterill told Sky Sports News from the Rush Green training camp [13 December, 11:25am]
“But I also understand that actually it’s all cleared up now and everyone is in the best of health for what is a massive game.”
Cleared up
There was always a worry that this sickness bug would continue to spread and only rule more players out of action.
Moyes was justified with his decision to give every player two days off earlier this week, acting as a circuit breaker in many ways.
Clubs became accustomed to these scenarios during the peak Covid period, and it is important that the same practices continue to be followed.
December is a notoriously busy time of the season, so being without one or two players, let alone six or seven, is far from ideal.
Thankfully, though, Alvarez and Emerson are now fit and well, as is Fornals, so Moyes has near enough a full squad to choose from.
Michail Antonio remains sidelined, while Alphonse Areola is still doubtful with a wrist injury, but United certainly have a strong enough group to get the job done against Freiburg.
In other West Ham news, Rio Ferdinand has suggested Manchester United should sign a Moyes favourite to unlock one of their summer flops.