West Ham United have been dealt a potential injury blow with footage emerging of Declan Rice training away from the main group of players.
The Hammers are travelling to Bucharest on Thursday evening for the final game of their Europa Conference League group-stage campaign.
FCSB will play host to the east London club, who have already sewn up Group B in the competition with five wins from five.
David Moyes’ side will then turn their attention to Crystal Palace this weekend for the first of two remaining Premier League games before the World Cup break.
However, it appears that Irons and England midfielder Rice is now feeling the effects of the congested season.
As seen on Sky Sports and posted on Football Daily’s Twitter account, he has been spotted doing some individual training on Wednesday.
The caption read: ‘Declan Rice unlikely to travel with West Ham squad due to fitness issues’, with a reporter saying:
“The group training and preparing is a mixture of academy products and also some experienced faces, but one player that will be unlikely to travel is Declan Rice.
“Declan Rice is seen training on his own working on a bit of fitness at the moment away from the main group that are expected to travel over to Bucharest later on today.”
? Declan Rice unlikely to travel with West Ham squad due to fitness issues pic.twitter.com/mkd96r0YIG
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 2, 2022
TIF Thoughts on Rice and West Ham…
Will Rice leave West Ham next summer?
Yes!
No!
The 23-year-old has already played 18 times for the east Londoners this season, including every minute of the Premier League campaign so far.
The Hammers skipper spoke about playing an ‘obscene’ amount of games earlier this season, having played 68 times for club and country between June 2021 and June 2022 – and fatigue is likely a problem at this juncture.
With less than three weeks to go before the Three Lions’ opening game of the World Cup, Rice is likely to have one eye on Qatar, but considering Thursday’s fixture is a dead rubber, we don’t feel West Ham fans need to worry that their captain isn’t being risked in midweek.