West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is set to miss a second successive Premier League match with a tweaked groin, Hammers manager David Moyes has said.
Frenchman Areola was forced off at half-time during his side’s 4-3 defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday, with Lukasz Fabianski replacing him for the second period and the 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham on Tuesday.
“We hope it’s not going to be too long but we’ll have to wait and see,” said Moyes. “We’re playing a lot of games, so we have to look after all our players.”
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Centre-back Nayef Aguerd is being monitored in the hope of a return, while Edson Alvarez is back in contention after a suspension for 10 yellow cards.
“We’ve missed his presence,” Moyes said of the Mexico international. “He’s been hugely important to the team.
“He’ll come back in and we’re looking forward to having him back. I haven’t spoken to him about his discipline.
“He’s experienced enough to deal with that. He’s still getting used to the Premier League and he’s a really important player for us.”
Quick feet from Kudus 💫 pic.twitter.com/2Ld1XbLxYt
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 3, 2024
Wolves v West Ham: Moyes ‘excited’
West Ham’s trip to Wolves on Saturday is the first of four games in 15 days for the side in seventh – the likely final qualification place for European football next season.
Wolves are one of four teams within three points of overtaking them, with sixth-placed Manchester United three points ahead of the Uefa Europa Conference League holders.
All of the teams around West Ham have at least one more game than them to play but Moyes remains optimistic.
“It’s great to be in the position we’re in,” he said. “It’s difficult and there are teams around us but we just need to take each game as it comes.
“I’ve not even thought about squad rotation. We’re just excited about the games coming up.”
