(Credit: All Out Football on YouTube/Imago)

Jacob Raw

Mon 20 April 2026 22:10, UK

Alan Smith failed to see the careless nature of Will Hughes’ horrible foul on Crysencio Summerville during West Ham United vs Crystal Palace.

The Hammers travelled to Selhurst Park on Monday in another bid to aid their push for Premier League survival.

Summerville is one of Nuno Espirito Santo‘s best players, and the Irons have had to wait a while to see him get back to fitness after a recent injury.

In the 40th minute of the contest, the Dutchman was doing one of his trademark jinking runs through Palace’s final third before Hughes’ studs went into the back of his foot.

Summerville is just getting back to full fitness, and Smith didn’t seem to recognise the danger of this reckless foul.

Alan Smith says Will Hughes’ foul on Crysencio Summerville was ‘unintentional’

Summerville has offered West Ham hope with his performances this season, and another injury to him would be detrimental.

The Irons welcomed him back to the squad after the international break, but they came close to losing him after 45 minutes due to Hughes’ reckless moment.

Though Hughes was not trying to injure Summerville, the West Ham man had the ball at his feet, and the Crystal Palace man was nowhere near it, carelessly overstepping into the winger’s heel.

While speaking live on Sky Sports, Smith highlighted Summerville’s pain, but was wrong in assuming that it’s just something that happens often.

Smith said: “It’s one of those. Hughes just clips his Achilles. It’s unintentional, just one of those things that can happen but are very painful.”

That can result in a red card offence, and you’ve got to think that it was a tactical foul done on purpose to prevent Summerville from creating a chance for the Hammers like he so often does.

What’s even worse is the fact that Palace fans started booing the 24-year-old for going down – unbelievable.

Why this highlights reality with Summerville for Nuno

This incident was a reminder to Nuno of why he must be careful with certain star’s and not overplay them where he can.

Obviously, Summerville was always going to start, but it may be in his best interest to start taking the left-winger off the pitch earlier in games, as the more play goes on, the more chance of something bad happening.

The Irons aren’t far away from securing their Premier League status with a few more results, but to do so, they will need to keep their best players injury-free.

Smith was wrong about this call, and referee Darren England must look at himself for not even awarding a yellow card to Hughes.