EXWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United’s Nayef Aguerd looks set to play against Arsenal on Boxing Day.
There had been doubts over Aguerd’s fitness situation after he mysteriously disappeared from the starting line-up during Morocco’s World Cup semi-final loss against France.
The defender was down on the team sheet and even lined up for the national anthem but was replaced by Achraf Dari for kick-off.
It was reported by the Independent that Aguerd was recovering from flu but wasn’t fit to play with a place in the World Cup final on the line, bringing a huge sigh of relief from Hammers’ fans following his already injury-hit start to the campaign.
The 26-year-old only made his Premier League bow in the final game before the World Cup after missing the entire first half of the season with an ankle injury following his £30m move in the summer.
Ex has now confirmed on his Patreon that Aguerd’s disappearance wasn’t through injury but West Ham will do their own assessment of the player after a demanding World Cup.
“The Moroccan manager has confirmed that he was still suffering the effects of flu and that was why he didn’t play rather than feeling his injury in the warm-up,”
“Of course, West Ham will be looking to do their own medical assessment on his thigh before deciding what training and availability he has but there will now be hopes that the centre-back can be available for our first league game back away at Arsenal.”
TIF Thoughts on Ex’s comments…
Aguerd’s return will basically be a new signing for the Irons as he featured in only one league game before Christmas, and judging from his performances in Qatar he’s going to be a key player.
He featured in Morocco’s first four games but an injury forced him off in the round of 16 against Spain where he didn’t recover to play again.
West Ham will be glad it was only flu that kept him out and will pray that he’s given an otherwise clean bill of health with them hovering above the drop zone, it hasn’t been their tightness at the back that’s the issue but a lack of goals with them the third-lowest scorers in the league.
But with Aguerd returning and a newfound confidence at the back to play more expansive football, it could be the platform in which the Hammers look to turn their season around if he can stay fit.