West Ham United have suffered a blow ahead of their Europa League quarter-final second-leg away to Lyon as Kurt Zouma is a major doubt to overcome his injury ahead of the clash.
That’s according to the Evening Standard, who report it is ‘difficult’ to see the centre-back win his race to be fit. Zouma twisted his ankle during the Irons’ 2-0 defeat at Brentford on Sunday, which forced boss David Moyes to introduce Issa Diop in the opening half an hour.
Zouma underwent scans on the issue on Monday, and West Ham are yet to rule the £30m summer signing out. But expectations of the 27-year-old featuring on Thursday night are considered very low. If so, Diop is likely to be afforded a start beside Craig Dawson at Lyon.
Zouma’s absence against Lyon would come as a huge blow for Moyes as he bids to secure West Ham a Europa League semi-final spot. The Hammers travel to the Groupama Stadium having to win, after Tanguy Ndombele sealed Les Gones a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
Jarrod Bowen had put the 10-man Irons ahead on 52 minutes following Aaron Cresswell’s red card in first-half stoppage-time. But Tottenham loanee Ndombele returned to England with a goal, to set up an all or nothing tie in southern France with the sides level pegging.
West Ham suffer Lyon blow with Kurt Zouma major injury doubt for Europa League
Moyes will be devastated if West Ham are without Zouma through injury for their second-leg against Lyon, though. The former Chelsea defender – who John Terry calls ‘superb’ – is a mainstay of the Scot’s plans when he is fit and the Irons boss is also not resting key men.
Zouma has started all 20 of his Premier League appearances since debuting in September. The only games he has missed since were seven with a hamstring injury before February’s draw at Leicester through illness. Only Dawson (25) has started more often at centre-half.
Additionally, Moyes has started Zouma in all three of West Ham’s knockout Europa League fixtures thus far with Dawson. He favoured Diop during the group stage to manage the 11-cap France international’s workload. But he has a clear favourite in Zouma for crunch ties.
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