Injury expert digs at Moyes after analysing ‘painful’ Cresswell footage at West Ham
David Moyes “has previous” when it comes to downplaying injuries – West Ham fans must hope he has not done so with Aaron Cresswell.
So says injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Cresswell was substituted by Moyes after a collision with the goalpost in last Sunday’s (28 November) 2-1 defeat away to Man City.
The manager told football.london later that day that Cresswell was “in a spasm really and couldn’t move his leg” but that “he is okay”.
The 31-year-old left-back did not feature in the Irons’ 1-1 draw with Brighton last night (1 November).
Dinnery cites the example of Angelo Ogbonna’s knee ligament injury to illustrate that Moyes has a history of underplaying serious injuries.
He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: “David Moyes initially plays down the injury as a bit of a knock but nothing too serious.
“It’s a problem with the back and maybe the rib, but these injuries can evolve over the next 24 to 48 hours into something more serious.
“Fingers crossed, it is just heavy knock, a contusion maybe. The fact that it went into spasm, that indicates some sort of soft tissue damage.
“That is a way of protecting the back. When I looked at the footage, it looked quite painful but not too serious.
“But we also know that David Moyes has a little bit of previous with Angelo Ogbonna.
“He said the knee wasn’t really an issue and it was more the face, but it turned out to be an ACL.
“However, on the face of it, it looks okay. Typically, it could be seven to 10 days before he returns.”
Ogbonna is expected to be out for up to nine months after suffering ACL damage against Liverpool on 7 November.
Cresswell has one goal and one assist in 14 matches this season for the high-flying Hammers.
In other news, pundit tips Declan Rice to sign new West Ham contract amid “£100million” claim.