Medical expert issues Zouma verdict after ‘huge’ new West Ham update
Kurt Zouma’s recent Covid bout has delayed his return from injury at West Ham by a week at the very least.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Zouma has been unavailable since the 3-2 win over Chelsea at the beginning of last month (4 December).
The Frenchman, a £29.8million signing from Chelsea last August, also tested positive for coronavirus in early January.
Zouma was pictured back in training by club media for the first time yesterday (19 January).
As quoted by football.london on Tuesday (18 January) when asked if he was nearing a return to play, David Moyes said: “Not at all, because he’s only just recovering from Covid.”
Dinnery how explained how the centre-back’s illness and injury woes have created a perfect storm and extended his stretch on the sidelines.
“It certainly impacts him and delays his return to play,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“He is coming back off a fairly long-term hamstring tendon problem. He’s not able to get the treatment, first and foremost.
“Depending on the severity, you’re talking anywhere between five and 10 days away from the training pitches.
“You’re looking to build those baseline levels of fitness which are crucial when you’re looking to come back from injury.
“It was hoped that he would return in game week 23, but that was with the assumption that he was hitting all his checkpoints.
“He’s not been able to complete all those activities. Covid impacts that hugely.
“If you’re away from the training ground for another seven days, you’re a week behind at the very least.
“He is one who will be back some time after the winter break as long as there are no respiratory issues.”
Zouma has shone since his arrival at the London Stadium, making 13 appearances so far.
His side are currently 4th in the league table and are next in action against Man United on Saturday (22 January).
In other news, Danny Mills suggests West Ham handed top-four boost after £10m reveal.