Medical insider: Nayef Aguerd could return for West Ham within days after BBC reveal
Nayef Aguerd could return for West Ham in the Europa Conference League next week (27 October).
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Aguerd is yet to make his competitive debut for West Ham after suffering a knee injury in pre-season.
As quoted by BBC Sport earlier this week (19 October), David Moyes claimed he thinks the 26-year-old will “definitely feature” before the World Cup and he will play in Europe before the Premier League.
West Ham play Silkeborg on next week (27 October) where they will be confirmed as group winners if they avoid defeat.
“This is one where David Moyes tends to come back and bite any comments I make on the backside,” Dinnery told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“Just because a player is included in a matchday squad it does not mean they are ready to play. Likewise, if they are not in the matchday squad it does not mean they are not available for selection.
“We have seen that in the past with David Moyes. Angelo Ogbonna was included in a matchday squad at the back end of last season but he had no intention of playing him, it was to reintegrate him into the matchday environment.
“All of a sudden you go from this player being out for another month to being in the matchday squad. It makes you look a little bit stupid.
“The reality is that Aguerd picked up that knee injury against Rangers in pre-season, had surgery. We know he’s progressing really well.
“In terms of being involved in the matchday squad, it would make sense for Moyes to target one of those Europa Conference League games, to build up that fitness. The intensity is not the same as the Premier League so it’s a good grounding.
“Other influencing factors come into the situation. We’ve seen [Craig] Dawson out with injury, [Kurt] Zouma have a problem with illness and Ogbonna have problems with his hamstrings.
“All of a sudden, you have three central defenders out and Aguerd is performing well in training. Do they risk him?
“Any appearance before the end of this month is a bonus. Couple that with bounce games and work on the training ground and we could see Aguerd in contention for a starting place at pre-injury levels in early November.”
In other news, an ex-Fifa official has claimed West Ham may be “in trouble” with Uefa as “terrible” footage emerges.