By support

12th Feb, 2017 | 3:35pm

David Gold defends 27-year-old West Ham attacker on Twitter

By Will Butcher

David Gold has defended Andre Ayew after a fan criticised three of West Ham’s strikers this season.

Ayew, 27, moved to the Hammers in the summer for £20million from Swansea but suffered a long-term muscle injury on his debut before jetting off to represent Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Replying on his personal Twitter account, co-owner Gold disagreed with a Hamers fan that criticised former Marseille striker Ayew, but Gold failed to stick up for Jonathan Calleri.

West Ham’s number 20 has scored just one goal in his 13 league and cup outings for the east London side this season, finding the back of the net against his former side Swansea.

Ayew failed to feature against West Brom on Saturday during the 2-2 draw after he had only just returned from representing Ghana at AFCON.

The versatile forward, who can play out wide, as a centre forward or in the number 10 role, is expected to feature against Watford on February 25.

The Hammers have two weeks off after being knocked out of the third round of the FA Cup by Manchester City, as the Premier League takes a back seat for the fourth round next weekend.

Three points against Walter Mazzarri’s side could see the Hammers jump back into ninth position in the Premier League if Stoke slip up against Tottenham.

In other West Ham news, Gold also revealed when target man Andy Carroll would be returning from injury.

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