West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola will miss the visit of Tottenham in the Premier League on Tuesday but defender Nayef Aguerd could return, manager David Moyes has said.
Frenchman Areola was almost ever-present for the Hammers during the first half of the season and made his 27th league start of the campaign at Newcastle on Saturday before being forced off at half-time with a groin injury.
“It looks like he’s going to be out for a little bit,” said Moyes. “We hope it’s not too serious but Lukasz Fabianski will come in.”
Areola could do little about Alexander Isak’s sixth-minute penalty to put the Magpies in front in a thriller which the visitors turned around to lead 2-1 at the break.
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Moyes’ side went 3-1 ahead through Jarrod Bowen three minutes after Fabianski came on and the Poland international made several fine saves, only for Isak to score a second penalty with 13 minutes remaining and Harvey Barnes to then strike twice as Newcastle won 4-3.
Aguerd was also not in West Ham’s matchday squad for the first time since he took part in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.
“[He’s] trained today,” Moyes said of the centre-back on Monday. “We’ll see how he and everyone else is tomorrow.”
Bowen & Ward-Prowse score to complete our memorable comeback win in north London last time out against Tottenham ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/mhS1MEJWeM
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 1, 2024
West Ham v Tottenham: Phillips ‘really good’
On-loan midfielder Kalvin Phillips has endured more criticism after conceding the penalty which began Newcastle’s comeback and allegedly later aiming an offensive gesture at West Ham supporters.
Phillips, who joined from Manchester City in January, has fallen short of the form he hopes to rediscover in order to be in contention for England’s Uefa Euro 2024 squad, impeding Anthony Gordon for the spot kick minutes after coming on.
“Kalvin’s a human being and what he needs is support and people to help him, which is what we’ll do,” said Moyes.
“We need our fans to give all our players the support they require. Kalvin’s a really good player and I do believe we can still make something out of the time we’ve got with him here.”
West Ham remain seventh after their dramatic added-time defeat at St James’ Park but have three chasing teams within three points of them, each of whom have a game in hand.
