Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma will be out for at least four weeks.
In the club’s last game – an away defeat against Brentford – the centre-back was forced off the field early having picked an ankle injury.
In light of this, Ex had claimed that the Frenchman was a big doubt for the club’s upcoming game against Lyon this week and he would have to undergo some scans before more would be known. Indeed, the club confirmed he would miss Thursday’s crunch clash as they awaited further tests.
Is Kurt Zouma West Ham's best defender?
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Sadly for West Ham fans, it looks as though the news is not good, as a source within the club confirmed the extent of the injury – which will prevent him from taking part for some time as West Ham enter the run-in.
Sharing the news on The West Ham Way Patreon page, Ex said: “We have just been given an official update by someone within the club who has confirmed that Zouma will be out for a minimum of 4 weeks and could be out for the rest of the season, confirming the rumours we had heard earlier.
“This is a big blow with both our first-team centre-backs facing a race to play again this season and we also have Dawson, who has been playing through the pain many times this season.”
TIF Thoughts on Kurt Zouma and West Ham…
This information certainly will be a ‘big blow’ to David Moyes on the dawn of his side’s Europa League showdown. Indeed, the Hammers travel to France needing a positive result, having drawn 1-1 at home in the first leg of the quarter-final tie.
To make things worse, left-back Aaron Cresswell will not be available for the match after he picked up a red card in the game last week. On top of that, as Ex mentions, Craig Dawson has played most of the season on painkilling injections, so this may put extra pressure on him to be fit and at his best.
All in all, after adding Zouma’s issues to the equation, things are not looking so good for the Hammers right now. At the very least, they can take some comfort in knowing that Lyon have their own injuries issues to contend with at the moment, too.
Perhaps that will be a crumb of comfort to fans who may be feeling rather concerned right now.
In other news: ‘We might be able to go and raid them’ – Ex now reveals exciting new West Ham target